The maker of the favored weight loss drug Wegovy stated Wednesday that it’s ramping up manufacturing of the drug, which has been in brief provide in pharmacies throughout the USA.
The drug confronted widespread shortages final yr due to its growing recognition, executives for drugmaker Novo Nordisk, stated on a name with buyers Wednesday.
“We all know for a undeniable fact that sufferers have been lined up,” company CEO Lars Jorgensen stated on the decision.
Ozempic, Wegovy shortages amid skyrocketing recognition for weight loss
Jan. 17, 202302:13
Novo Nordisk stated on Dec. 28 that each one dosages of the drug could be out there once more after provide points, however added that it might take time for the drug to arrive at pharmacies from distribution facilities.
There continues to be “pent up demand” for Wegovy, however Novo Nordisk expects this to turn into much less of an issue as extra provide of the drug turns into out there over the next few months, Jorgensen stated.
“We’re clearly inspired by the trendline we see, however we additionally do imagine there will probably be a normalization of that,” he stated.
Wegovy, or semaglutide, is a component of a category of medicine known as GLP-1 agonists. They mimic a hormone that helps scale back meals consumption and lower urge for food. In scientific trials, Wegovy was proven to scale back physique weight by round 15%.
The drug is pricy, costing round $1,300 a month, and insurance coverage firms typically do not cowl it.
Shortages of Wegovy have compelled some folks in the U.S. to cease taking it, main them to acquire some — or all — of their weight again.
Others have been prescribed Ozempic off-label for weight loss, inflicting shortages of that drug. Ozempic is identical medicine as Wegovy, simply in a decrease dose, and is accredited to be used in folks with Kind 2 diabetes to regulate their blood sugar ranges. Each are made by Novo Nordisk.
Doug Langa, head of North American operations at Novo Nordisk, famous on the decision the difficulties that sufferers have had discovering the medicine, however added that the company now “appears to be like ahead” to the drug being extra extensively out there.
