Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO; CPH: NOVO-B), a leading healthcare company, has reportedly planned a cautious market launch for the anti-obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) in China following its recent approval. The strategy is aimed at preserving manufacturing capacity and maintaining the stability of global supply chains, according to Maziar Mike Doustdar, Novo’s head of international operations, in an interview with Bloomberg.
The commercial launch of Wegovy is being prepared after the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China approved semaglutide for obesity treatment on June 26, 2024. Doustdar emphasized the need for a controlled market release to prevent disruptions to global supplies and to ensure continuity of treatment for patients who begin therapy with the drug. As stated by Doustdar and quoted by Bloomberg, “We cannot completely open this up on day one to all centers and all doctors and then have a situation where let’s say, on Monday, we launch the product, and by Wednesday or Thursday, there’s not enough for those who started it back on Monday.”
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have highlighted that the primary challenge for their anti-obesity drugs is ensuring sufficient supply to meet global demand. In February 2024, Novo Holdings, the parent company of Novo Nordisk, announced the acquisition of contract manufacturing organization (CMO) Catalent for USD 16.5 billion. This included the direct sale of three of Catalent’s manufacturing plants to Novo Nordisk, which are expected to boost the production of Wegovy/Ozempic.- Flcube.com
