The drugmaker expects the regulator to remove Wegovy and Ozempic from its shortage list, blocking other companies from legally selling cheap knockoff versions.

The Danish maker of Ozempic and Wegovy reported a 25 percent increase in sales to $40.6 billion, but said it expected slower growth this year.

In fact, Novo Nordisk recently reported positive results for one of its anti-obesity candidates that puts its current best-selling drug in this area, Wegovy, to shame. Let's look deeper into these results and what they could mean for investors.

One of Novo Nordisk's next-generation obesity shots to follow up on the success of Wegovy helped patients lose 22% of their weight in 36 weeks, according to early-stage trial results on Friday, boosting the drugmaker's shares.

Novo Nordisk’s amycretin shows 22% weight loss over 36 weeks, potentially surpassing Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Further trials are planned.

Novo Nordisk's amycretin trial results highlight significant weight loss in adults with obesity, with further clinical development planned.

On Friday, however, Novo Nordisk announced top-line results in yet another trial. While the results don't initially sound as good as those in the trials cited above, however, the speed at which they were achieved has investors cheering, and Novo Nordisk stock is up 7.7% through 10:50 a.m. Friday morning.

The weight-loss drugmaker's Wegovy and Ozempic are among the most closely watched new medications in recent history, but face serious competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro.