** Shares in Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO rise more than 3% in late afternoon trade after Eli Lilly LLY.N study's results on the efficacy of its next generation obesity drug retatrutide

** J.P,Morgan says the drug's efficacy seems similar; retatrutide achieved a 23.7% weight loss on an intention-to-treat basis, roughly 3% higher than Novo's CagriSema

** Kepler Cheuvreux deems the results "very mixed", which might be some relief to investors as Novo expectations have been very low

** Nordnet also points out Wednesday's introduction of the “Safeguarding Americans from Fraudulent and Experimental Drugs Act of 2025" bill in the U.S., which is intended to protect patients, but will also potentially protect drug manufacturers

** Novo Nordisk shares have lost about 49% YTD

(Reporting by Boleslaw Lasocki)

((boleslaw.lasocki@; +48 58 769 66 00;))