Novo Nordisk unveils weight loss injection Wegovy in Britain
London: Novo Nordisk launched its weight-loss injection Wegovy in Britain on Monday, its second debut in Europe in just over a month as the drugmaker seeks to expand in the region even as it struggles to keep up with soaring demand.
The Danish drugmaker said in a statement that Wegovy would be available in the UK "through a controlled and limited launch".
Surging demand for the drug, and Novo's highly effective diabetes drug Ozempic, have sent the company's shares and earnings to record highs. On Friday it unseated LVMH as Europe's most valuable listed company, ending the French luxury group's 2-1/2 year-long reign at the top.
Read also: Novo Nordisk briefly overtakes LVMH as Europe most valuable company
Wegovy, shown to help patients reduce body weight by around 15% when used along with exercise and lifestyle changes, is so far available in the United States, Norway, Denmark, and as of late July, Germany.
Novo's inability to keep up with U.S. demand for Wegovy has effectively delayed the launch in most of Europe.
The company has struggled to keep up with demand even as it has added production capacity, and its CEO told Reuters last month it would "take quite some years" before the company can satisfy the whole market.
Read also: Novo Nordisk launches weight-loss drug Wegovy in Germany
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