A package containing syringes of the medicines Wigoby, Ozempic and Munjaro at a store in Mitte, Germany, on July 11, 2024.
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total dose of novo nordiskThe highly popular weight loss injection “Wegovy” and the diabetes drug “Ozempic” are now available in the United States, according to . update It was listed on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage database on Wednesday.
It’s a sign that Novo Nordisk’s efforts to increase weekly drug supplies are starting to pay off as demand continues to soar in the United States.
In a previous update, it said Wegovy’s lowest dose (25 milligrams) remains in short supply.
Multiple doses of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wigovy and Ozempic, have been on the FDA’s shortage list since early 2022.
Wednesday’s update raises the possibility that the FDA will remove blockbuster shots from the shortage list altogether, in which case compounding pharmacies will be able to manufacture customized and often cheaper versions of these brand-name drugs. There is a possibility that it will not be possible.
Novo Nordisk said in a statement that all volumes of Wigoby and Ozempic are regularly shipped to wholesalers. The Danish drugmaker said the FDA update is the result of the company’s significant investments in expanding manufacturing capacity and “ongoing communication” with the FDA.
Still, Novo Nordisk said that even if a drug is listed as available, it does not mean patients will be able to immediately fill a prescription at a particular pharmacy.
Novo Nordisk said its “deliberate approach of gradually increasing supply to the U.S. market is working.” “We will continue to prioritize continuity of patient care and will closely monitor market trends and determine prescribing trends along the way.”
The announcement comes a week after Novo Nordisk asked the FDA to prevent compounding pharmacies from producing unapproved versions of Wigovy and Ozempic, saying the drugs are too complex for manufacturers to safely produce. I insisted that I couldn’t.
Earlier this month, the FDA removed the active ingredient, tirzepatide. Eli LillyWeight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes drug Mounjaro have been removed from the shortage list. However, a trade group representing some compounders sued the FDA, and the agency announced it would reconsider its decision to remove tirzepatide from the shortage list.
