novo nordisk as said wednesday that its firsthalf sales and profit both rose on increasing demand for diabetes treatments and it raised its 2022 outlook for sales and operating profit growth the danish pharmaceutical company posted a net profit of 2753 billion danish kroner 376 billion in the first half from dkk2475 billion in the same period last year sales rose to dkk8330 billion from dkk6685 billion a year prior operating profit rose 26 on a reported basis to dkk3754 billion fullyear guidance was raised with the company now expecting 2022 sales growth of 1216 from 1014 previously and operatingprofit growth of 1115 from 913 both measured in local currencies reported growth in sales is now seen around nine percentage points higher than in local currencies from seven percentage points higher previously while reported operatingprofit growth is seen around 14 percentage points higher from around 11 percentage points higher previously the growth is driven by increasing demand for glp1 based diabetes treatments especially ozempic our obesity treatments are also contributing to growth as more people living with obesity are being treated and the obesity care market continues to expand chief executive and president lars fruergaard jorgensen said