Net profit increased by 23% to DKK4,073m.
Gross margin improved by 0.3% in local currencies, reflecting a favorable product mix development, but due to a negative currency effect, the gross margin declined by 0.2% to 80.1% compared to the first quarter of 2010.
Sales increased by 15% in Danish kroner and by 11% measured in local currencies.
Sales growth in the first quarter of 2011 was lowered by approximately 3% due to healthcare reforms in the US, major European markets and Turkey.
North America was the main contributor with 45% share of growth measured in local currencies, followed by International Operations and Region China, contributing 20% and 18%, respectively.
Sales growth was realized within both diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals, with the majority of growth originating from Victoza and the modern insulins.
President and CEO Lars Rebien Sørensen said they are encouraged by the continued double-digit sales growth driven by Victoza and modern insulins.
"It strengthens our confidence in the company’s long term growth prospects despite the near-term impact on sales growth from healthcare reforms in the US and other major markets, which is reflected in the 2011 outlook," Sørensen said.
Novo Nordisk said it has completed a pre-specified meta-analysis based on the Degludec phase 3a trial programme.
The meta-analysis confirmed that Degludec is associated with a lower risk of hypoglycaemia compared to insulin glargine, both on the total number of confirmed hypoglycaemic events, and on the number of confirmed nocturnal hypoglycaemic events.
Both findings are statistically significant.