COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Obesity drugmaker Novo Nordisk on Wednesday cut its full-year sales and profit outlook amid lacklustre U.S. prescription data and posted first-quarter operating profit above analyst forecasts.

"In the first quarter of 2025, we delivered 18% sales growth and continued to expand the reach of our innovative GLP-1 treatments," CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said in a statement.

"However, we have reduced our full-year outlook due to lower than-planned branded GLP-1 penetration, which is impacted by the rapid expansion of compounding in the U.S.," he said.

The Danish company cut its guidance and now expects 2025 sales growth in local currencies of between 13% and 21%, compared to the 16%-24% range given at the beginning of the year.

It now predicts operating profit growth between 16% and 24% this year, compared to a previously guided range of between 19% and 27%.

Novo reported first-quarter earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) of 38.79 billion Danish crowns ($5.90 billion), compared with the 37.20 billion forecast in a company-compiled consensus based on 26 analysts and up 22% from a year ago.