Feb. 2, 2023 -- Drug maker Novo Nordisk says it is increasing production of Wegovy, a weight loss drug, which has been hard to find in stores.
The company has said it faced supply issues, and “pent up demand” continues for Wegovy, CEO Lars Jorgensen said on a call with investors Wednesday, according to NBC News.
Shortages grew last year as the drug’s popularity grew, the company said.
“We know for a fact that patients have been lined up,” Jorgensen said. “We are obviously encouraged by the trendline we see, but we also do believe there will be a normalization of that.”
Wegovy mimics a hormone that helps reduce food intake and cut appetite, NBC said. In clinical trials, Wegovy reduced body weight by about 15%. It costs about $1,300 a month. Insurance companies often don’t pay for it.
Shortages have led some people to re-gain weight they lost while taking it. And they have led others to use prescription Ozempic for weight loss, but it, too, has faced shortages. It’s the same medication as Wegovy but in a lower dose; it helps regulate blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, NBC said.
Novo Nordisk makes both.
