In a groundbreaking development for the U.S. obesity treatment market, the oral medication Wegovy has surpassed 3 million prescriptions just five months after its launch,
Novo Nordisk announced this milestone on Monday during the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference in New Orleans.
According to Novo, Wegovy (semaglutide) crossed the 3 million prescription threshold by June 2, merely six months after its January debut in the U.S.
This remarkable achievement translates to approximately one prescription being filled every five seconds. After reaching the 1 million mark within just 12 weeks of its launch, the prescription rate accelerated even further, adding another 2 million in the subsequent 10 weeks.
Novo hailed Wegovy as one of the fastest-launching products in U.S. pharmaceutical history. An analysis of IQVIA prescription data revealed that among over 1,888 brand-name drugs introduced in the U.S. since 2013, Wegovy achieved one of the highest initial prescription performances.
Significantly, over 80% of new Wegovy patients had no prior experience with existing GLP-1 class treatments. This suggests that rather than cannibalizing existing treatments, Wegovy is expanding the obesity treatment market itself.
Novo is also prioritizing improved patient accessibility. Individuals with commercial insurance can access treatment for as little as 25 USD per month through a discount program. Starting in July, they will introduce a program for Medicare recipients with a monthly out-of-pocket cost of around 50 USD.
Looking ahead, Novo is gearing up for Wegovy’s international debut in the second half of this year, having recently announced approval and launch plans in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).