Obesity drug maker Novo Nordisk forecast slower growth this year after Wegovy sales more than doubled in the final quarter of 2024, with analysts and investors describing the results as "good enough" to ease nerves about stiff competition from rival Eli Lilly.

The Danish pharmaceutical company’s blockbuster Wegovy weight-loss drug just missed sales expectations in the fourth quarter despite more than doubling on the year.

Shares of Novo Nordisk ( NVO 4.37%) were moving higher on Wednesday. The company's stock gained 4.9% as of 1:50 p.m. ET, but gained as much as 5.8% earlier in the day. The leg up comes as the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 0.26%) gained 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC 0.02%) lost 0.1% on the day.