Novo Nordisk developed the weight-loss drug Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic.
Novo Nordisk is a Danish pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark. It specializes in treatments for diabetes, obesity, and related chronic conditions. Its semaglutide medicines include Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for chronic weight management.
Semaglutide belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. It imitates a naturally occurring hormone involved in blood-glucose regulation and appetite signaling. Ozempic and Wegovy use the same active ingredient but have different approved indications and dosing schemes.
A common mix-up is treating Ozempic and Wegovy as identical products. They share semaglutide, but Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management in eligible patients. Novo Nordisk’s success in this area rapidly increased public interest in its medicines and made the company one of Europe’s most valuable.