Wegovy Supply Set to More Than Double in the United States

_{Photo: Reuters}

Novo Nordisk CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, announced on Wednesday the company's plan to significantly increase the supplies of lower doses of its obesity drug, Wegovy, in the United States. This expansion comes as Novo Nordisk aims to address the surging demand for its widely-used therapy. The ramp-up in weekly injection volumes will facilitate the initiation of treatment for new patients, with the impact expected to be reflected in the upcoming weeks' US prescription data.

It's noteworthy that Novo Nordisk had previously faced challenges in meeting the escalating demand for Wegovy. In May, the company implemented restrictions by limiting the number of US patients eligible to start treatment, specifically reducing the supply of the lowest three doses of the appetite-suppressing weekly injection.

While the recent announcement indicates a boost in the supplies of lower-strength Wegovy doses to the US market, the official lifting of the restriction imposed in May has not been confirmed by Novo Nordisk. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, four out of five dose strengths of Wegovy continue to experience shortages in the United States.

Healthcare data firm IQVIA's data, reviewed by Reuters, reveals a notable decline in new US prescriptions for Wegovy. For the week ending January 19, approximately 54,150 new prescriptions were written, compared to the peak of 135,000 in May.

Novo Nordisk's efforts to address the supply-demand gap for Wegovy reflect the ongoing challenges in meeting the needs of patients seeking obesity treatment. The expansion in supply aims to alleviate shortages and accommodate the growing demand for this therapeutic solution. However, the persistence of shortages in specific dose strengths underscores the complexities involved in balancing production and demand for pharmaceutical products in the current market landscape.