STORY: Obesity drug champion Novo Nordisk keeps underestimating demand.

On Thursday the Danish firm lifted its outlook yet again.

It now expects growth of up 27% this year.

Novo has become Europe's most valuable listed firm - worth around $573 billion - on the back of its lead in the market for drugs to treat obesity.

The company has raced to increase output of its Wegovy treatment.

Its income has only been capped by an inability to keep up with surging demand.

On Thursday, Novo reported pre-tax earnings of almost $4.6 billion for the first quarter - that's better than forecast, and up more than a quarter on this time a year ago.

Analysts predict the market for weight-loss drugs could soon be worth $100 billion per year.

But Novo won't have it all to itself.

Rival Eli Lilly is also raking in sales for its competing products.

This week the U.S. firm also raised its outlook, and said its factories were running 24/7 to meet demand.

Its shares jumped following the news, with the Indianapolis company now worth more than Tesla or Walmart.

Like Novo, it says sales growth really just depends on how much product it can make.