Key facts
- Novo Nordisk launched its Wegovy weight-loss pill in the UAE.
- The UAE is the second country to offer Wegovy.
- Wegovy was first launched in the U.S. in early January.
- Novo Nordisk will assess patient demand and healthcare infrastructure for future international launches.
Novo Nordisk has officially launched its highly anticipated weight-loss medication, Wegovy, in the United Arab Emirates. This marks the second country globally to gain access to the drug, following its initial rollout in the United States at the beginning of January. The expansion into the UAE signifies a key step in Novo Nordisk's strategy to broaden the availability of its GLP-1 receptor agonist treatments for obesity. The drug is available through prescription and aims to help adults with obesity or overweight conditions achieve and maintain weight loss. Novo's approach to global launches will be guided by patient demand and the strength of healthcare and telehealth infrastructure, the drugmaker said. Novo is "all in" on launching the Wegovy pill in overseas markets, and it sees it as a "major opportunity."