What if you bought Novo Nordisk the day Wegovy was approved?
Novo Nordisk is the original beneficiary of the obesity-drug boom. This uses real data to show what would have happened if you had invested a lump sum in Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B.CO) on June 4, 2021 — the day its obesity drug Wegovy received U.S. FDA approval — and held until now. As a Europe-listed single stock, be mindful of survivorship bias and currency effects.
⚠️ Know the risk first
A drug approval does not guarantee a rising stock, and there were stretches of major correction after approval on competition and demand issues. As a Europe (Denmark)-listed stock, FX effects can weigh heavily on real results. Be sure to check the maximum drawdown.
⚠️ This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
What happened that day
On June 4, 2021, the U.S. FDA approved Novo Nordisk's semaglutide obesity drug 'Wegovy.' The approval of this once-weekly GLP-1 injection for weight management became the original event of the obesity-drug boom that later swept the world.
Why this date
The buy date is the day the original drug of the global obesity-drug boom was actually approved, computing 'what if you bought at the start of the boom.'
Investment conditions
Asset · Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B.CO) · lump-sum on the 2021 Wegovy approval day, then held long-term
Method · Lump-sum (all at once)
Period · 2021-06-04 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $7,407
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Buy and final prices are shown in the asset's local currency (US & crypto $, Japan ¥, Korea ₩). Total invested and final value are in Korean won (₩).
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-76.8%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
0months
Months in loss: 0
Recovery period
0months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $7,407 → Final value $10,858 (+46.6%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -76.8%
Why this period and asset
June 4, 2021 is the day the U.S. FDA approved Novo Nordisk's semaglutide obesity drug 'Wegovy.' A once-weekly GLP-1 injection for weight management, its approval became the original event of the obesity-drug boom that later swept the world. Riding it, Novo Nordisk at one point became Europe's most valuable company. That said, there were also stretches of sharp volatility afterward amid intensifying competition and demand/earnings issues.
Interpreting the result
If you bought on this approval day and held without selling, you can see the final result in the metrics below. As the original obesity-drug beneficiary the upswing was large, but there were also stretches of major correction afterward on competition and demand issues. Don't look only at the final return — be sure to review the maximum drawdown and loss periods in between. Investing gradually each month instead of all at once would have spread out the entry-timing risk.
Caveats & limits
Be mindful of survivorship bias. Novo Nordisk looks clearly like the original obesity-drug beneficiary in hindsight, but drug development carries large uncertainty and the outcome can't be known in advance. Also, this stock is listed on the Copenhagen exchange, so converting its local-currency (Danish krone) price into won means exchange-rate effects can weigh heavily on real results (this calculation excludes FX, fees, and taxes). Figures use adjusted close; always review the maximum drawdown and loss periods.
Event fact sources
- Novo Nordisk — Novo Nordisk receives FDA approval for Wegovy (2021-06-04)
- Drugs.com — Wegovy (semaglutide) FDA Approval History (first approved 2021-06-04)
Requested date vs actual trading date
If the event date is a holiday, the fill uses the next trading day's close. The 'effective trading date' below is the date actually used.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-28
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: Adjusted close (reflects dividends and stock splits)
- This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Why use June 4, 2021 as the buy date?
That is the day the U.S. FDA approved Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide). It best captures 'what if you bought the day the original drug of the global obesity-drug boom was approved.'
Isn't Novo Nordisk a U.S. stock?
No. Novo Nordisk is a Europe-listed stock on the Copenhagen exchange (ticker NOVO-B.CO). This calculation uses local-currency adjusted close and excludes FX, fees, and taxes. In real investing, KRW/DKK moves can weigh heavily on results.
Did it only rise after approval?
No. There was a large upswing after Wegovy's approval, but also stretches of major correction on intensifying competition and demand/earnings issues. Check the maximum drawdown and loss-period metrics below. The final return only holds if you held through them.
Are FX and taxes reflected?
No. Exchange rates, trading fees, and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax. As a European stock especially, FX effects can weigh heavily on real results. This page only shows historical data and recommends no specific stock.
Related scenarios
📋 Results are based on historical data; past returns do not guarantee future returns.
📋 This service is provided for educational purposes to help you understand investing, not as investment advice.
⚠️ Calculated using today's representative assets, which may differ from the market composition at the time.