Novo Nordisk has officially launched its weight loss medication Wegovy in the United Arab Emirates, representing its first entry into a market outside the United States.
This decision is influenced by factors such as patient demand, healthcare professional readiness, and the robustness of healthcare infrastructure in the UAE, as noted by Emil Kongshøj Larsen, the executive vice president of International Operations. The Emirates Drug Establishment recently approved Wegovy for weight management and for reducing cardiovascular risks in high-risk patients.
This launch is particularly important for Novo Nordisk as it faces increasing competition in the weight-loss drug market, which analysts predict could surpass $100 billion by 2030. Despite being a pioneer in GLP-1 drugs for obesity, Novo has seen its market share decline, especially with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro surpassing its Ozempic in sales.
Currently, the U.S. market still represents over half of the sales for both Novo and Eli Lilly, which has also introduced its weight-loss pill, Foundayo. Novo Nordisk had previously indicated plans to expand Wegovy into other international markets by the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals