COPENHAGENLONDON, Jan 31 Reuters Novo Nordisk on Wednesday forecast another year of doubledigit record sales and operating profit growth as it began easing restrictions on supply of its popular weightloss drug Wegovy.

The company, which has raced to increase output amid shortages of Wegovy, said it started gradually increasing the supply of the lower dose strength of the drug in the United States in January.

Novo was last year unable to meet runaway demand for Wegovy, and in May began limiting the number of U.S. patients who can start treatment by reducing the supply of the lowest three doses of the appetitesuppressing weekly injection.

Wegovy sales totalled 9.6 billion Danish crowns 1.39 billion between October and December, slightly lower than the previous quarter and a fourfold rise from the same period a year earlier.

The company said it aimed this year at a gradual rollout of Wegovy with capped volumes outside the U.S.

Novo expects sales growth this year between 16 and 25 and operating profit to rise 1928 as demand soars for Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic, which contains the same active ingredient.

Analysts on average expect Novo Nordisk to deliver sales growth of 21 this year, according to LSEG data.

We are very pleased with the strong performance in 2023, reflecting that more than 40 million people are now benefiting from our innovative diabetes and obesity treatments, CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said in a statement.

The company said fourthquarter…