LONDON — Novo Nordisk’s new CEO dismissed on Wednesday that his company’s attempt to outflank Pfizer for the obesity startup Metsera could run into regulatory issues, and argued that the company’s offer reflected its “bolder” moves to grow its pipeline.

“If we did not feel that we would be able to close the deal, we would not have probably entered the transaction,” Mike Doustdar , who took over as CEO in August, told reporters on a call tied to the company’s third quarter earnings report.

But if Novo’s move to outbid Pfizer is being viewed as a more aggressive stance for the Danish pharma, it also reflects the crunch that Doustdar and the company find themselves in, as growth of their obesity and diabetes products slows and as rival Eli Lilly elbows it out in market share. Its stock

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