Novo Nordisk operates the diabetes and obesity-drug brands Ozempic and Wegovy.
Both brands contain semaglutide, a medicine that mimics the hormone GLP-1 and helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. Ozempic is approved for treating type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved in specified markets for chronic weight management. Their different labels reflect approved indications and dosing, even though they share the same active ingredient.
Demand for these medicines helped Novo Nordisk become one of the world’s most valuable healthcare companies by market capitalization. The company’s valuation can change daily, while drug approvals and indications depend on regulators in individual countries.
Novo Nordisk was formed in 1989 through the merger of Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium. It is headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark, and has a long history in diabetes care.