New weight-loss drug approved in Europe: Global Sales and Market trends

The Danish firm's newly approved weight-loss has seen high demand in global market.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of USA has approved couple of medicines for weight-loss im last few years. Irrespective of high demand, the supply for this drug have been severely hurt by a pause in manufacturing unit. Two months ago, the inventor company confirmed exploring new markets of Europe would be a bit slower. Meanwhile, Novo’s diabetes treatment drug Ozempic, which contains minute amount of the active component in Wegovy, is out of supply.

The current scenario:

Supplies of Novo Nordisk's new weight-loss drug Wegovy are limited in Germany within a month after its launch in Europe's largest drug, as confirmed by drug distributors and doctors.

"The volumes of the weekly injection that the Danish drugmaker has delivered to the country so far have fallen short of strong demand," the wholesalers said.

"Demand is by far exceeding the available volumes," a spokesperson for Noweda told, adding "the problem was nationwide."

Not only in Europe, but also in USA, the demand for weight-loss drug has increased since its approval.

Meanwhile, Novo saw a global sales of 12 billion Danish krone worth of €1.6 billion for Wegovy or semaglutide in the first six months of 2023, which is much higher than the previous year.

What company told?

"We have had a controlled and limited launch in Germany and been delivering to wholesalers continuously," a Novo spokesperson said, adding "it had no influence over onward distribution to pharmacies."

Doctors shares some updates:

Munich-based obesity specialist Dr. Thomas Horbach said "there was no Wegovy available in his area."

"Despite asking many different pharmacists about Wegovy, I did not find anyone who got the drug from any of their wholesalers," he told news agencies.

Dr. Jodok Fink, a bariatric surgeon in the southwestern city of Freiburg, said "his patients had no access to Wegovy. We prescribe Ozempic because it’s cheaper than Wegovy and because Wegovy is not available," he said.

Pharma Companies share concerns:

A spokesperson for Sanacorp Pharmahandel, with an around 20% market share, said "orders from pharmacies for some dosages of Wegovy were several times higher than the amounts delivered."

Phoenix Pharmahandel, the country’s largest drugs wholesaler, and smaller trading alliance Pharma Privat said "they were not receiving the volumes needed to meet demand and were trying their best to distribute fairly."

Helios St. Elisabeth Klinik in the western city of Oberhausen, which runs an obesity centre, said that "patients there managed to obtain the drug but needed to ask around and go beyond their usual pharmacies to find it."

DocMorris, a German mail-order pharmacy, said "it did not have any Wegovy in stock."

About weight-loss drugs:

Of course, these drugs need a prescription from a recognised doctor and should only be consumed under proper medical supervision. These drugs should be consumed in presence of a balanced weight loss diet. Because, they may exert side-effects and also may not be helpful to provide long-term solution for chronic or acute obesity.

Finally, it’s crucial to remember that these medications are not a "quick fix" for any type of weight loss. Obesity, in most cases, is a serious chronic condition. So, medications are only one way of a treatment plan to achieve weight loss. It takes lot of hardwork to maintain it.