Why Novo Nordisk Stock Topped the Market on Thursday
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By Eric Volkman – Dec 11, 2025 at 7:54PMKey PointsA bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that would curb some activities of compound pharmacies.The maker of Wegovy has been particularly affected by competition from such parties.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NYSE: NVONovo NordiskMarket Cap$165BToday's Changeangle-down(2.38%) $1.17Current Price$50.22Price as of December 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM ETA proposed new federal law could provide some competitive guardrails for the company's most important product.It might be best known for its weight loss drug, but Novo Nordisk (NVO +2.38%) was a gainer on the stock market Thursday. Thanks to efforts in the legislative sphere, investors were bullish on the company, and pushed into its stock to power it to a nearly 3% gain that trading session. By contrast, the S&P 500 index could only muster a 0.2% increase. Legislative effort Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican Rudy Yakym and Democrat Andre Carson (both of Indiana), have introduced a bill that would impose significant limitations on the making of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs by compounding pharmacies (i.e., those that can produce custom medicines). Image source: Getty Images. This covers the massively popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs currently on the market, most notably Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (Eli Lilly's Zepbound also falls into this category). The compounding of GLP-1 medications has been a particular headache for Novo Nordisk, as it has increased competitive pressure on its top-selling medications. In a joint press release issued by Yakym and Carson, the congressmen wrote that "While compounding serves important individualized medical needs, some entities are exploiting it to illegally manufacture and sell untested, unapproved drugs at scale." "These products endanger patients, undermine trust in FDA-approved medicines, and weaken incentives to develop new treatments," they added.Advertisement ExpandNYSE: LLYEli LillyToday's Change(1.53%) $15.16Current Price$1008.80Key Data PointsMarket Cap$939BDay's Range$987.35 - $1031.5452wk Range$623.78 - $1111.99Volume232KAvg Vol3.8MGross Margin83.03%Dividend Yield0.60% Federal protection? It's too soon to gauge the bill's chances of being passed into law, especially since Congress is dealing with more weighty matters as it heads into its holiday recess for the remainder of the year. Still, for Novo Nordisk shareholders -- and investors in healthcare companies that either have obesity drugs on the market, like itself and Eli Lilly, or are developing the same -- it's an encouraging sign that lawmakers are willing to help protect their business from perceived threats. About the AuthorEric Volkman is a contributing Motley Fool finance and stock market analyst. Previously, Eric was an equities analyst at European investment bank Raiffeisen Capital and Investment. He’s also been a freelance finance writer since 1995. He studied at Susquehanna University.TMFVolkmanRead NextDec 8, 2025 •By Eric VolkmanWhy Novo Nordisk Stock Was Melting on MondayDec 5, 2025 •By Prosper Junior BakinyThis Pharmaceutical Giant Fell by 10% After a Setback: Time to Sell the Stock?Dec 3, 2025 •By Prosper Junior BakinyMedicare Just Cut the Price of Wegovy: Should You Sell Novo Nordisk Stock?Dec 1, 2025 •By Rick OrfordNovo Nordisk's Latest Clinical Result Is Sending the Stock Plunging. Here's What Investors Need to Know.Nov 29, 2025 •By Matthew BenjaminWhy Novo Nordisk Stock Just Hit a 4-Year LowNov 28, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFANovo Nordisk Stock Investors Get Huge News on Drug Trial Results