Novo Nordisk’s strong performance continues in Q3 2013

Novo Nordisk has published its financial results for the first nine months of 2013, revealing that its recent strong growth continued into the third quarter of the fiscal year.

The company's sales total for the year to date came to 61.9 billion Danish kroner (7.03 billion pounds), up by eight percent year on year, thanks to the double-digit increases seen for products such as Victoza, Levemir and NovoRapid.

Operating profit rose by ten percent during the period, which also saw Novo Nordisk continue to make progress with the rollout of its once-daily new-generation insulin Tresiba, which is now available in Sweden and India.

Lars Rebien Sorensen, president and chief executive officer of Novo Nordisk, said: "We are pleased with the sustained robust financial performance. Sales growth continues to be driven by our portfolio of modern insulins and Victoza."

He added that the recent initiation of the cardiovascular outcomes trial Devote marks a significant milestone in the company's efforts to expand the availability of Tresiba to patients in the US.

The drug has shown long-term efficacy and significant quality of life benefits in clinical data presented earlier this year.