Novo Nordisk Forecasts 2015 Operating Profit to Rise 10%

Novo Nordisk A/S, the world’s largest insulin maker, said it expects operating profit to rise about 10 percent this year and next, raising its forecast even as price competition in diabetes therapy increases.

Sales growth in local currencies will probably be 7 percent to 9 percent this year and in the high single digits in 2015, the Bagsvaerd, Denmark-based company said today in a statement. The drugmaker lowered its forecast for how much currency swings will reduce 2014 operating profit to about 3 percent from about 5 percent. The stock rose as much as 3.6 percent.