Victoza, NovoSeven drive Novo Nordisk's sales

BAGSVÆRD, Denmark — A collection of relatively new products helped drive up sales and profits at Novo Nordisk, the Danish drug maker said Wednesday. 

Sales increased by 22% in the North American markets when measured in local currencies, and by 29% when measured in Danish kroner, the company said. Operating profits were $3.5 billion, a 16% increase over 2009.

Strong performers included the Type 2 diabetes drug Victoza (liraglutide), which had sales of $429.4 million, while sales of the hemophilia treatment NovoSeven (coagulation factor VIIa [recombinant]) increased by 8%.

“2010 was a very good year for Novo Nordisk with strong organic sales growth driven by the modern insulins and Victoza,” Novo Nordisk president and CEO Lars Rebien Sørensen said. “We expect continued sales growth from these products and are encouraged by the results from the phase-3 program with our new generation insulins.”