Packages containing syringes of the drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro in a store in Mitte, Germany, on July 11, 2024.
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all doses of NordiskThe wildly popular weight-loss shot Wegovy and the diabetes drug Ozempic are now available in the U.S., according to an update to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage database. . on Wednesday.
It's a sign that Novo Nordisk's efforts to increase supply of those weekly medications are starting to bear fruit, as demand continues to skyrocket in the US.
An earlier update said Wegovy's lowest dose (25 milligrams) was still in short supply.
Several doses of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, have been on the FDA's shortage list since early 2022.
Wednesday's update raises the possibility that the FDA will remove the blockbuster shots from its shortage list entirely, which could prevent compounding pharmacies from making customized and often cheaper versions of those brand-name drugs.
In a statement, Novo Nordisk said all Wegovy and Ozempic doses are regularly shipped to wholesalers. The Danish drugmaker said the FDA update is the result of the company's significant investment in expanding manufacturing capacity and “ongoing communication” with the agency.
Still, Novo Nordisk said patients may not always be able to immediately fill their prescriptions at a particular pharmacy, even when a drug is listed as available.
“Our intentional approach to gradually increase supply in the US market is working,” Novo Nordisk said. “We will continue to prioritize continuity of care for patients, closely monitoring market dynamics and prescribing trends along the way.”
It comes a week after Novo Nordisk asked the FDA to stop compounding pharmacies from making unapproved versions of Wegovy and Ozempic, arguing that the drugs are too complex for those manufacturers to make safely.
Earlier this month, the FDA removed tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lillyweight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro, from its shortage list. But a trade group representing some compounders sued the FDA, prompting the agency to say it will reconsider its decision to remove tirzepatide from its shortage list.
