Novo Nordisk developed Wegovy, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved in 2021.
Wegovy is a once-weekly semaglutide injection indicated for chronic weight management in certain adults and adolescents with obesity or overweight plus related health conditions. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a drug class that can affect appetite, blood sugar, and digestion.
Novo Nordisk had already developed semaglutide for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Ozempic. Wegovy uses a higher dose for weight management, so the two products are related but are not interchangeable brand names for the same approved indication.
Novo Nordisk was formed in 1989 through the merger of Novo Industri and Nordisk Gentofte. The Danish company’s long history in insulin and diabetes care helped make it a major pharmaceutical company before the newer obesity-drug boom.