COPENHAGEN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based international healthcare company, registered a net profit of 47.8 billion Danish kroner (DKK) (6.8 bln U.S. dollars) in 2021, up 13 percent from 2020, according to financial results released by the company on Wednesday.
"We are very pleased with the double-digit sales growth in 2021 and the progress we have made in our strategy plan," said Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen in the release.
Gross revenue also increased to 140.8 billion DKK (21.4 bln U.S. dollars) in 2021 against 126.9 billion DKK (19.3 bln U.S. dollars) in 2020.
The charge to profit in 2021 was notably led by sales of its diabetic and obesity treatments.
In 2021, sales of Novo Nordisk treatments for obesity care increased by 50 percent, amounting to 8.4 billion DKK (1.27 bln U.S. dollars).
Adding to company profits, second tier products such as treatments for hemophilia and growth hormones sold for 19.2 billion DKK (2.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021.
Looking ahead to the end of 2022, the Novo Nordisk accounts anticipate sales to continue to increase by six to ten percent.
Founded in 1923, Novo Nordisk has grown to become a worldwide pharmaceutical company and Denmark's largest company measured by market value with factories on five continents, employing around 48,000 employees in 80 countries with products sold in more than 170 countries. ■