A late-stage trial of its new weight loss drug fell short of expectations
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) stock is down 18.9% to trade at $82.25 at last check, after the pharmaceutical company's weight loss drug CagriSema missed expectations of a late-stage study. The popularization of treatments such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, as well as Eli Lilly's (LLY) Zepbound for weight management caused quite the industry stir this year, with telehealth name Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) also joining the race.
NVO is on track for its biggest daily and weekly percentage losses on record, as well as a fourth-straight loss. Shares now carry a 20% deficit for 2024, and earlier hit a 52-week low of $82.11, with their latest rally running into long-term overhead pressure from their 60-day moving average.
Options traders are chiming in, with 2,830 calls and 1,353 puts exchanged so far today, which is four times the volume typically seen at this point. Most active is the December 85 call, where new positions are being opened. These contracts expire after today's close.
Puts were much more popular than usual leading up to today. Over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), NVO's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.14 ranks higher than 84 of readings from the past year.