Novo Nordisk launched its oral Wegovy weight-loss pill in the UAE, the first international market outside the US, following Emirates Drug Establishment approval based on the OASIS 4 trial showing about 17% mean weight loss.
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Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy pill in UAE, its 1st market outside the US
Novo Nordisk A/S launched its oral Wegovy (semaglutide 25 mg) weight-loss pill in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, making the Gulf nation the first market outside the US to receive the once-daily treatment.
The Emirates Drug Establishment approved the tablet after clinical data showed a mean weight loss of about 17% when treatment was adhered to, with one in three patients achieving 20% or greater weight loss, the Danish drugmaker said in a statement. The pill is also the only oral weight-loss therapy approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight.
"We are thrilled that Wegovy pill is now available in the UAE," Emil Kongshøj Larsen, executive vice president of International Operations at Novo Nordisk, said. "This launch represents an important milestone in our ambition to expand access to innovative obesity care globally."
The approval was based on the OASIS 4 trial program, which evaluated oral semaglutide 25 mg taken once daily. The safety and tolerability profile was comparable to previous trials with semaglutide for weight management, the company said. The Wegovy pill was first launched in the US in early January, where it saw strong uptake among patients.
Dubai-based healthcare provider Metabolic will be the first clinic in the UAE to offer the drug when it becomes available in mid-June through a phased launch, the company said in a separate statement. Patient access will be prescription-based and initiated through a medical consultation. The UAE has about 28% of adults living with obesity, with almost 7.5 million people projected to be living with obesity or overweight by 2035, according to Novo Nordisk.
The UAE approval follows the Emirates Drug Establishment's authorization of Eli Lilly & Co.'s Foundayo weight-loss pill in April, which became available in the country shortly afterward. Novo Nordisk said it plans to launch Wegovy pill in additional select countries in the coming months, guided by local patient demand and healthcare infrastructure readiness.
The expansion of Wegovy pill into international markets signals a major growth opportunity for Novo Nordisk as it competes with Eli Lilly in the rapidly expanding global obesity treatment market, projected to reach $100 billion by the end of the decade. Investors will watch for the company's next market launches and quarterly sales data for the oral formulation.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
[1] Wegovy® pill launches in the UAE as Novo Nordisk expands global access to obesity care[2] Novo Nordisk Launches Wegovy Weight-Loss Pill in UAE[3] Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Pill to Launch in the UAE Following Regulatory Approval[4] Who can take Wegovy weight-loss pill? UAE doctors explain prescription, eligibility rules
