A 0.25 mg injection pen for Novo Nordisk’s weight loss medication Wegoby is shown in this photographic illustration taken in Oslo, Norway on September 1, 2023.Reuters/Victoria Klesty/Illustration/File Photo Acquisition of license rights
LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) launched its weight-loss injection Wegobee in the UK on Monday. It will be its second European debut in just over a month, as the pharmaceutical maker struggles to expand in the region. To meet surging demand.
The Danish pharmaceutical company said in a statement that Wegobee will be available in the UK “through a controlled limited launch”.
The surge in demand for the drug and Novo’s highly effective diabetes drug Ozempic sent the company’s share price and earnings to all-time highs. It surpassed LVMH (LVMH.PA) on Friday to become Europe’s most valuable listed company, ending a two-and-a-half-year stint as the top French luxury group.
Wegovy has been shown to help patients lose about 15% of their weight when used in conjunction with exercise and lifestyle changes, and has so far been used in the United States, Norway, Denmark, and in late July As of now it is also available in Germany.
Novo’s inability to keep up with US demand for Wegovy has effectively delayed its launch in most of Europe.
The company is struggling to keep up with demand as it ramps up production capacity, and its chief executive told Reuters last month that it would take “a lot of years” for the company to satisfy the overall market. ‘ said.
“We are closely monitoring demand for Wegovy and are working with regulators and healthcare providers to ensure that people with obesity continue to receive treatment,” the company said in a statement.
UK medicine cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE recommended Wegovy use for adults with at least one weight-related condition and a BMI of 35 in March, although it was recommended by National Health Service (NHS) experts. within the weight management plan of the
NICE’s recommendation also calls for Wegovy to be used for “up to two years.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what Wegovy would cost in the UK. NICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning.
supply constraints
A Novo statement said the drug will be available both within the National Health Service’s weight management system and “privately through registered health care professionals.”
Novo declined to say how much supply would be available in the UK or how much Wegobee would cost in either of the two treatment scenarios the company cited. In the United States, the drug sells for up to $1,350 a month.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the implications would be if the drug were made available through private health professionals.
“As supplies are expected to be limited for the foreseeable future, a portion of the available supply will be allocated solely for use within the NHS to enable health workers to implement NICE guidance,” Novo said in a statement. said.
About 50,000 eligible patients in the UK may be prescribed Wegovy through the NHS’ specialized weight management service, an NHS spokesperson said in a statement responding to Reuters questions about the launch.
“Despite global supply restrictions, NHS England is taking action to start implementing NICE guidance for weight management, while at the same time restoring supply of this class of medicine for people with type 2 diabetes. We are working to help,” an NHS spokesperson said.
In June, the UK government announced plans to launch a pilot program to explore how a new weight-loss injection like Wegovy could be administered to obese patients weekly by general practitioners, though a start date for Wegovy was unknown at the time. Ta.
Reuters reported last week that Wegoby’s supply was restricted in Germany less than a month after its launch in Europe’s biggest drug market, highlighting challenges to Novo’s European ambitions.
Reported by Maggie Fick.Editing: Susan Fenton, Emelia Sitor-Matarize
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