Provide of weight reduction drug Wegovy anticipated to enhance in subsequent few months, firm says
The maker of the in style weight reduction drug Wegovy stated Wednesday that it’s ramping up manufacturing of the drug, which has been briefly provide in pharmacies throughout america.
The drug confronted widespread shortages final yr because of its rising 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,” firm CEO Lars Jorgensen stated on the decision.
Novo Nordisk stated on Dec. 28 that each one dosages of the drug can be out there once more after provide points, however added that it could take time for the drug to reach at pharmacies from distribution facilities.
There continues to be “pent up demand” for Wegovy, however Novo Nordisk expects this to grow to be much less of an issue as extra provide of the drug turns into out there over the following 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 part of a category of medicine known as GLP-1 agonists. They mimic a hormone that helps scale back meals consumption and reduce urge for food. In medical trials, Wegovy was proven to cut 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 within 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 reduction, inflicting shortages of that drug. Ozempic is identical treatment as Wegovy, simply in a decrease dose, and is accepted to be used in folks with Sort 2 diabetes to manage 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 treatment, however added that the corporate now “seems ahead” to the drug being extra extensively out there.
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