Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic Pill Fails in Long-Shot Alzheimer’s Effort

A pill version of Novo Nordisk A/S’s Ozempic failed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in a pair of long-shot studies that aimed to open up a new use for blockbuster obesity drugs.

Patients who took the medicine didn’t see their disease progress more slowly based on a cognitive assessment, the Danish drugmaker said Monday. Novo will discontinue a planned one-year extension of the studies. The stock closed down 5.8% in Copenhagen at the lowest level in more than four years.