US FDA says lowest dose of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug now available

By Sriparna Roy and Maggie Fick

October 30, 202411:16 PM GMT+7

Item 1 of 2 Injection pens and boxes of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy are shown in this photo illustration in Oslo, Norway, November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/Illustration/File Photo

[1/2]Injection pens and boxes of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy are shown in this photo illustration in Oslo, Norway, November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

Oct 30 (Reuters) - The lowest dose of Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO), opens new tab weight-loss drug, Wegovy, was listed as available on the U.S. health regulator's website on Wednesday.

Several doses of Novo's GLP-1 therapies such as Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic, both chemically known as semaglutide, have been on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's shortage list since early 2022. The FDA website now shows that all five dose strengths of Wegovy and all three dose strengths of Ozempic are available.

Novo Nordisk confirmed in an emailed statement to Reuters that the drugs are listed as available on the FDA's shortage website, adding all doses were being shipped regularly to wholesalers. "Our intentional approach to gradually increase supply into the U.S. market is working," the statement read.

Surging demand for these therapies, which are from the GLP-1 drug class, has led the Danish drugmaker and its U.S. rival Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab to spend billions of dollars to boost their production. Lilly, with its obesity drug Zepbound, is the only other drugmaker aside from Novo Nordisk with a highly effective obesity drug on the market.

The FDA removed Zepbound and Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro, which contains the same active pharmaceutical ingredient, from its shortage list in early October. The agency is reviewing its decision and has allowed customized, cheaper versions of the treatments to be produced in the meantime.

Source: Reuters