Novo Nordisk A/S

Diabetes drugmaker Novo Nordisk will start a late-stage clinical trial to test its semaglutide drug as a treatment for early Alzheimer's disease, it said on Wednesday.

Diabetes drug maker Novo Nordisk said on Friday it had agreed a $1.8 billion deal to acquire Emisphere Technologies, giving it control of a pill technology that it hopes will broaden sales to diabetics with an aversion to shots.

European stock markets gained on Friday on rosy earnings forecasts from retailers Pandora and Zalando as well as drugmaker Novo Nordisk, with investors keeping an eye out for signs of fresh U.S. stimulus.

* Shares in Novo up almost 1% at 0800 GMT (Adds CFO and CEO quotes, details on stockpiling, share reaction)

* NOVO NORDISK ACQUIRES HBM PORTFOLIO COMPANY CORVIDIA THERAPEUTICS FOR UP TO USD 2.1 BILLION IN CASH Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdansk Newsroom)

* Novo Nordisk's first-quarter profit and sales beat forecasts

* Novo expects 2020 sales to grow 3-6% in 2020 vs 6% last year

Novo Nordisk's new diabetes pill, Rybelsus, will be covered by Express Scripts Holding Co, one of the largest U.S. pharmacy benefit managers, the Danish drugmaker said on Friday.

Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it would offer free, one-time supply of insulin to people in immediate need and at risk of rationing the medication, the rising price of which has attracted fierce criticism from lawmakers and regulators.

* Opg profit 12.9 bln Danish crowns vs expectations for 13.1 bln

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved an oral version of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug semaglutide, a boost for the Danish drugmaker which hopes to transform the market by offering patients a non-injectable treatment.

Novo Nordisk will offer cheaper insulin to U.S. diabetics, the Danish drugmaker said on Friday, in response to criticism over the high price of the medication and after similar moves by rivals Sanofi and Eli Lilly.

Novo Nordisk said on Friday it would offer cheaper insulin to some U.S. diabetics in response to intense criticism over the high price of the medication and following similar moves by rivals Sanofi and Eli Lilly.

Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it has filed litigation in a Delaware district court against Mylan aimed at blocking its attempt to market a generic version of the Danish insulin maker's drug Victoza.

Danish insulin-maker Novo Nordisk has been sued by investors demanding 11.8 billion Danish crowns ($1.8 billion) in compensation for the company's alleged market manipulation, Danish daily Borsen reported on Friday.

* Upbeat about sales of its newest diabetes drug (Adds CEO quotes)

Novo Nordisk said on Tuesday it had bought a factory in North Carolina that would assist in manufacturing and packaging its new once-daily pill for treating type 2 diabetes.

An experimental oral form of a Novo Nordisk drug for type 2 diabetes posed no greater risk of serious heart problems or death than a placebo in patients at high risk for such complications, according to data from a large study presented on Tuesday.

Novo Nordisk and Gilead Sciences will join forces on a clinical trial combining drugs from the two pharmaceutical firms to treat a progressive fatty liver disease known as NASH.