COPENHAGEN, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk

plans to examine in clinical trials whether its future

weight-loss drugs can treat a wide range of health conditions

linked to obesity, as it has already begun doing with its

blockbuster drug Wegovy.

The Danish drugmaker aims to build evidence across both

severe and more common obesity-related conditions that affect

patients' daily lives, such as knee osteoarthritis and sleep

apnea, Martin Holst Lange, head of research and development at

Novo Nordisk, told Reuters in an interview in connection with

the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in

Vienna.

"We do know that obesity is actually related to more than

200 different comorbidities," Lange said.

Novo has not disclosed which conditions it plans to

investigate in future trials for its experimental therapies

CagriSema and amycretin. It has already received regulatory

approval for semaglutide as a treatment to reduce the risk of

major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.

The company is also awaiting results by year-end from an

eagerly expected trial testing semaglutide - the active

ingredient in its blockbuster drugs Wegovy and Ozempic - in

Alzheimer's disease, marking its push beyond obesity and

diabetes treatment.

"Any significant results would be clinically relevant

because that would imply a delay in the decline of cognitive

function," said Lange. "In the space where very few treatments

are available for patients with Alzheimer's disease, that would

be meaningful." But he cautioned: "We see this as high risk."

UBS analysts estimated just a 10% probability of success for

the trial, but noted that positive outcomes could generate an

additional $15 billion in annual revenue for Novo Nordisk.

Barclays analysts said in a recent note that the trial

results would be critical to determine whether Novo's

Alzheimer's programme can become a new pillar of long-term

growth.

Lange spoke days after the company announced it would cut

9,000 jobs as it tries to reignite growth and fend off

competition from U.S. rival Eli Lilly ( LLY ). The restructuring,

expected to save about $1.25 billion annually, includes the

ending of some early-stage drug pipeline research.