Novo Nordisk, a leading pharmaceutical company known for its weight-loss and diabetes drugs, has appointed Maziar Mike Doustdar as its new CEO. The company hopes this change will help guide its future growth. However, the announcement led to a sharp drop in Novo’s stock, with shares falling over 20%—the largest single-day decline in its history. This comes as the pharmaceutical industry faces challenges like regulatory changes, potential tariffs, and patent expirations. Novo is not alone in making leadership changes, as several other major drug companies have also recently replaced their top executives. Novo’s growth has slowed due to competition in the weight-loss drug market. While its medications Ozempic and Wegovy were once market leaders, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound has gained popularity, pushing Novo into second place. As a result, Novo has lowered its sales expectations for 2025 from a 13% to 21% increase to just 8% to 14%. Doustdar, who has worked at Novo for over 30 years, will now lead the company through this challenging period. He has experience launching Novo’s weight-loss drugs in different countries and may implement cost-cutting measures, such as workforce reductions. In addition to leadership changes, Novo is restructuring its research and development division by merging two teams into one, led by a new chief scientist. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson’s spinoff company, Kenvue, is also facing difficulties. After separating from J&J in 2023, Kenvue has struggled with declining sales of over-the-counter products like Tylenol and Benadryl. Investors are pressuring the company to make changes, leading to the sudden removal of its CEO, Thibaut Mongon, and the appointment of an interim leader. Kenvue may sell some of its brands or even be acquired by another company. On a more positive note, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, known for its rare disease and cancer treatments, is expanding its portfolio. The company recently acquired Chimerix to strengthen its oncology (cancer) division and has a promising drug, Ziihera, in development. Jazz is also preparing for leadership changes, with Renée Galá set to become CEO in August, taking over from Bruce Cozadd, who is retiring. These moves reflect the dynamic nature of the pharmaceutical industry, where companies must adapt to stay competitive.