Efforts by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to Improve Availability of Weight Loss Drugs
The demand for weight loss drugs is skyrocketing, with patients seeking effective treatments to shed pounds. However, the dominant weight loss drugmakers, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, have been struggling to meet the demand due to supply shortages. Despite this, both companies are making progress in their efforts to increase the availability of their weight loss drugs.
Novo Nordisk’s weight loss injection, Wegovy, and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound have gained popularity among patients looking to lose weight. However, the high cost, limited insurance coverage, and unpleasant side effects have not deterred people from seeking these treatments. Analysts predict that by 2030, around 15 million U.S. adults will be on obesity medications, and the weight loss drug market could be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade.
The scarcity of these drugs has led to intermittent shortages, making it difficult for patients to access them. Many patients have reported visiting pharmacies that don’t have the drugs in stock. However, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have provided updates on their efforts to increase supply.
Novo Nordisk announced that it has doubled the supply of lower-dose versions of Wegovy in January compared to previous months. This will allow more people to start taking the drug, which was previously restricted due to shortages. The company plans to gradually increase the supply of Wegovy throughout the year.
Eli Lilly has also made progress in increasing supply. The company has doubled its production capacity for incretin drugs, which include Zepbound and its diabetes drug Mounjaro. They aim to further expand production this year, with significant increases expected in the second half of the year.
To address the supply issue, Novo Nordisk’s parent company, Novo Holdings, announced a multibillion-dollar deal to acquire drug manufacturer Catalent. Catalent is the main supplier of fill-finish work for Wegovy. Novo Nordisk will purchase three of Catalent’s manufacturing sites, gradually increasing its manufacturing capacity starting in 2026. Analysts believe that these deals will boost production faster than building new plants or adding production lines.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are also investing in new production facilities to increase supply in the coming years. Eli Lilly is building a new plant in Concord, North Carolina, which will start production by the end of the year. They are also constructing facilities in Germany and Indiana. Similarly, Novo Nordisk is expanding its manufacturing sites in Denmark and building a new facility in France.
In addition to these efforts, alternative forms of weight loss drugs could help alleviate supply constraints. Eli Lilly plans to launch its incretin drugs in a delivery device called KwikPen in certain countries outside of the U.S. This method will expand supply as the company can utilize existing manufacturing resources. Furthermore, both Eli Lilly and analysts believe that oral forms of weight loss and diabetes drugs will be key to meeting the demand. Eli Lilly is developing an oral drug called orforglipron, which has shown promising results in midstage trials.
While supply shortages for weight loss drugs continue to pose challenges, companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are making significant efforts to improve availability. Their investments in expanding production capacity and exploring alternative drug forms show their commitment to meeting the growing demand for weight loss treatments. With these developments, patients can look forward to improved access to these life-changing medications.
