LONDON/COPENHAGEN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk on Wednesday forecast sales would grow at a slower rate this year although the outlook was roughly in line with market expectations as the pace of ferocious demand for its wildly popular obesity drug Wegovy eases somewhat.

The Danish company said it expects sales growth in local currencies to range between 16% and 24%, less than the 26% growth seen in 2024. That compares with analysts expectations of just under 20%.

The company is also grappling with competition from Eli Lilly.

It said fourth-quarter operating profit jumped 37% to 36.7 billion Danish crowns ($5.12 billion), better than the 33.6 billion forecast by analysts in a company poll.

It predicted operating profit for 2025 to climb between 19% and 27%, compared to growth of 26% last year.

During the fourth quarter, sales of Wegovy more than doubled to 19.9 billion crowns from 9.6 billion a year ago, in line with expectations and more than the 17.3 billion crowns achieved in the third quarter.

US-listed shares of Novo Nordisk jumped 5.4% in overnight trading.

($1 = 7.1674 Danish crowns)