Wegovy jumped five-fold in the US in the first three months of the year

The demand for the weight loss drug Wegovy in the US has skyrocketed, with sign-ups jumping five-fold in the first three months of the year, reaching over 25,000 per week, according to Novo Nordisk, the drug's maker.

Wegovy, along with its sister diabetes drug Ozempic, has been hailed as revolutionary, propelling Novo Nordisk into a leading position among Europe's most valuable companies. Despite facing scrutiny over high prices and competition from rivals like Eli Lilly, the surge in demand for Wegovy has remained strong.

To address concerns over pricing, Novo Nordisk has reduced prices in the US and plans to continue doing so in the coming months. However, the firm expects overall sales to grow by up to 27% this year, indicating confidence in the market's potential.

CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen attributed the price cuts to efforts to reach more "vulnerable" segments of the market. Despite challenges, including restrictions from health insurance plans, Novo Nordisk remains optimistic about the value of its drugs and their benefits for patients and healthcare systems.

One significant challenge for Novo Nordisk has been keeping up with demand, leading to investments in expanding manufacturing capacity. However, the recent surge in Wegovy prescriptions suggests that supply chain issues are easing, reflecting confidence in the drug's scalability.

Approved for sale in the US in 2021 and in the European Union in 2022, Wegovy's popularity underscores the growing demand for effective weight loss solutions, highlighting the potential impact of innovative pharmaceutical interventions on public health.