In recent years, numerous studies have revealed that our mega molecule semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus) provides beneficial effects across the spectrum of cardiometabolic diseases, beyond glycemic control and weight loss. In addition, facing our new competitor, the need to strongly differentiate Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus is a strategic goal in our purpose to continue to grow.

Therefore, at NNIL, we’ve embarked on an exciting journey to embrace the American Heart Association's initiative on Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health (CKM). This initiative isn't just a protocol, it's a commitment to better understand and communicate the intricate web of health that connects us all. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Simona, our GLP-1 medical lead, who shed light on the profound significance of CKM and its impact on our healthcare approach.

As we delve deeper, we discover CKM syndrome itself, which reveals the delicate connections linking cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic issues such as obesity and diabetes. These conditions rarely appear in isolation, they often join forces, escalating the risk of serious complications, from heart attacks to kidney failures. This holistic perspective encourages us to look beyond mere symptoms and see the broader landscape of health. For too long, diabetes and obesity were viewed as separate adversaries in the healthcare arena. However, the story has shifted.

We’ve come to appreciate the intertwined nature of these conditions. By understanding their relationships, HCPs can craft treatment plans that address patients as whole individuals, improving their overall health and wellbeing and potentially prevent complications.

It is therefore critical to treat today’s disease, while potentially preventing tomorrow’s consequences.

Driving CKM Goals and Enhancing Patient Care
Through our CKM initiative, we are setting the bar high, aiming to revolutionize patient care. Our ambitious goals include:

• Delivering comprehensive support for interconnected health conditions.
• Educating healthcare providers about the CKM approach
• Empowering patients to take charge of their health journeys.
• Fostering dynamic collaboration among diverse medical specialties.
• Championing early detection with regular screenings.
• Implementing state-of-the-art research and practical guidelines.

The Sema-CKM strategy is poised to elevate patient assessments and optimize management with semaglutide. We aspire for a future where semaglutide is a foundational therapy across the cardiometabolic spectrum, By screening for multiple related conditions simultaneously, we can unlock the door to earlier diagnoses and preventive care.

Confronting Challenges and Training Our HCPs

However, the road to success isn't without its bumps. Implementing the CKM approach comes with challenges such as educational gaps among HCPs, HMOs and ensuring patient adherence are just a few obstacles we face. Yet, we remain steadfast in our dedication to overcome these hurdles. Through collaboration with HMOs, we are developing training programs and resources that keep patients engaged and informed about their treatment plans.

To equip our HCPs with the right tools and knowledge, we’re launching the CKM Academy, a pioneering program featuring 3 regional meetings for leading primary care physicians, diabetes and obesity experts. In the first session, participants will be introduced to the CKM syndrome and focus on the comprehensive benefits of semaglutide, while the second will focus on CKM case management, inspiring them to empower their peers.

Celebrating Momentum and Semaglutide’s Game-Changing Role
As we gather momentum, interest in the CKM approach is growing. This was evident at our recent Obesity Week conference, where lively discussions underscored the importance of CKM in managing chronic conditions. With each step we take, we’ll continue to cultivate important conversations during future events, ensuring we stay at the forefront of CKM research and innovation.

Semaglutide, Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus stand as a cornerstone of our CKM strategy, providing numerous benefits in managing obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular health. Clinical trials underscore that semaglutide not only supports weight loss and glycemic control, but also improves key cardiovascular and renal outcomes for patients. By focusing on the interconnected aspects of CKM syndrome, semaglutide exemplifies our commitment to integrated patient care.

In this collaborative spirit, through innovative initiatives, we are carving a path toward a brighter, healthier future for patients navigating these intertwined health challenges. And in spirit, we work together as one core team: Liran, Ruti, Tomer, Hadas and myself, Simona, and with the endless collaboration across all units in NNIL with the support of our directors: Einav, Michal, Geula and of course Galit.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Aude, our Senior Finance Director at Novo Nordisk Israel.

Aude, thank you for joining us. We look forward to gaining insights into your journey and your perspective on the finance strategies at NNIL.

Aude: It's wonderful to be here and share my journey. My career has been quite the adventure, and I aim to shed light on experiences that may inspire others.

First of all, how has your family adjusted to life in Israel? Aude:The move has been quite positive for my family. We have immersed ourselves in Israeli culture, sampling local cuisines (we've already found our favorite hummus spot!). Interacting with my diverse work team parallels the rich cultural tapestry outside the office. Every day offers new learning opportunities about Israel’s history, landscape, and its innovative spirit. Our weekends are often spent soaking up the sun at Tel Aviv beach!

How will you measure the success of financial strategies at NNIL, and which key performance indicators are most critical?
Aude: To gauge our success, I align our financial strategies with affiliate targets, focusing on our "must-win battles," like achieving sales goals for GLP-1 injectable products. Understanding growth drivers for Wegovy® and Ozempic® will be vital for refining our strategies. Cost efficiency, return on investment, and employee development will also be key indicators. This year, we’re also embarking on a global finance project to enhance our infrastructure, which will undoubtedly demand our team's dedication.

Francesco, the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager at Novo Nordisk Israel, recently discussed the importance of the AB process, a cornerstone of our financial planning that drives organizational success. Since joining in March 2023, Francesco has collaborated closely with management, business units, and his colleagues Elad (EAPL) and Tom (TZER) to ensure this initiative plays a central role in our future strategies.

In essence, the AB process at Novo Nordisk is a dynamic framework shaping our financial strategy. It aligns our fiscal goals with our mission to deliver transformative treatments to patients. Through accurate forecasting and robust stakeholder engagement, we position ourselves to achieve our objectives and positively impact the healthcare sector.

“The AB process is more than just a financial blueprint”, it stretches over four years, encompassing the current year and the next three, acting as a “north star” for our organizational goals. “If you get the AB process right,” Francesco remarked, “you set the tone for everything else in the company.” By establishing clear sales and operating profit expectations, the AB forms the bedrock of our decision-making framework.

The implications of the AB extend well beyond numbers, affecting the company’s success and is a critical process in our affiliate and impacts both our investment and our supply. This allows us to valorise the affiliate toward the regional office which allows future readiness with the identification of potential upsides and downsides, and employees’ motivation with target setting.

Yet, forecasting poses significant challenges. “There’s always a risk that the assumptions used could be completely wrong,” he acknowledged, highlighting the critical role of engaging diverse teams across the business units. “Getting insights from various teams enhances our data and fosters accountability,” he added, emphasizing that collaboration generates informed narratives that guide financial choices. Accuracy in the AB process is paramount, as it directly influences crucial supply chain decisions for patients and establishes targets for employees. This level of precision not only ensures operational flow but also enhances employee satisfaction.

On a personal note, Francesco hails from Rome, Italy, and enjoys cooking his favorite dishes: rigatoni carbonara and tiramisu (perhaps an invitation to taste his culinary skills is in order!) In his spare time, he enjoys peace and quiet, finds similarities between Israel and Italy, and looks forward to exploring more of Israel in 2025. In the future, he hopes to return to live in Italy.

This year’s Good Deeds Day, 80 employees from Novo Nordisk Israel (NNIL) volunteered at the house for families with special needs in Kfar Saba. Our volunteering reflects our commitment to NNWay’s essential #3 ‘“We are accountable for our financial, environmental and social performance” and with ‘takeaction’ which is Novo Nordisk’s global employee volunteer programme. It provides employees with an opportunity to drive change in the health, social & environmental spaces.

This special home stands as a vital support hub for parents, grandparents and siblings of children with disabilities. With its community-centered approach, the facility offers families a warm environment to seek guidance on rights, engage in leisure activities and connect with others facing similar challenges.

Among the standout initiatives is "Bikes for Everyone – Cycling in the Park," a heartwarming project that enables individuals aged five and up with disabilities to enjoy cycling, thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers.

In a strong display of teamwork, NNIL employees set to work, in partnership with ‘Venatata,’ a renowned NGO focused on therapeutic and community gardens, to create a decorative garden, build benches and tables, and with the guidance of volunteers from Pnimeet an organisation that encourages the use of bicycles, to repair distressed bicycles for the cycling initiative.

The garden was filled with flowering plants and fruit trees, while the new furniture aims to create inviting spaces for families to gather and connect.

The mayor of Kfar Saba met with the volunteers to express his gratitude for their time and invaluable support and applauded our team as the largest group from a single company ever to participate. Good Deeds Day shone a spotlight on the power of giving back proving that together we can cultivate a brighter future.