Novo Nordisk unveils weight loss injection Wegovy in Britain

"We are closely monitoring Wegovy demand and are working with regulators and providers to ensure people living with obesity can have access to and remain on treatment," the company said in its statement.

In March, Britain's drug cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE recommended the use of Wegovy in adults with at least one weight-related condition and a body mass index of 35, but only within the National Health Service's (NHS) specialist weight management scheme.

Novo's statement noted that the drug will be available both within the National Health Service's weight management scheme and "privately through a registered healthcare professional".

Novo did not say how much supply it would make available in the UK or how much Wegovy would cost in either of the two treatment scenarios it mentioned. In the United States, the drug sells for as much as $1,350 a month.

It was not immediately clear what the implications would be of the drug being available through private healthcare professionals.

"As we expect supply to be constrained for the foreseeable future, a proportion of available supply will be allocated for use only within the NHS to allow healthcare professionals to implement NICE guidance," the statement said.

In June, the British government said it planned to launch a pilot programme exploring how new weekly weight-loss shots such as Wegovy can be given to obese patients by general practitioners, though at the time Wegovy's launch date was unknown.

Reuters reported last week that supplies of Wegovy were limited in Germany less than a month after its launch in Europe's largest drug market, highlighting the challenge for Novo's ambitions in Europe.