The FDA has announced that Ozempic and Wegovy, medications produced by Novo Nordisk, are now available in the U.S. after shortages.

• The FDA's drug shortage database has updated that all doses of Novo Nordisk's weight loss injection Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic are now available in the U.S.
• The increasing demand for Novo Nordisk's drugs in the U.S. indicates that their efforts to increase production are successful.
• The update may allow the FDA to remove the blockbuster injections from its shortage list, which would prevent compounding pharmacies from producing cheaper versions of those branded drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage database has updated that both highly popular weight loss injection Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic are now available in the U.S.

The demand for Novo Nordisk's weekly drugs is increasing rapidly in the U.S., indicating that the company's efforts to increase production are successful.

The 25 milligram dose of Wegovy remains in limited availability.

Since early 2022, the FDA has listed several doses of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, as being in shortage due to increased demand in the U.S.

The FDA may remove the blockbuster injections from its shortage list, which could prevent compounding pharmacies from producing cheaper versions of those branded drugs.

Novo Nordisk announced that all doses of Wegovy and Ozempic are being shipped regularly to wholesalers due to the FDA's update. The Danish drugmaker stated that this update is a result of their significant investment into expanding manufacturing capacity and ongoing communication with the agency.

Even if a medication is listed as available at a pharmacy, patients may not always be able to immediately fill their prescriptions there.

""Our strategy of gradually increasing supply into the U.S. market is successful, and we will continue to prioritize patient care while closely monitoring market trends and prescribing patterns," Novo Nordisk stated."

Novo Nordisk requested the FDA to prohibit compounding pharmacies from producing unauthorized versions of Wegovy and Ozempic, stating that the medications' complexity makes it dangerous for those manufacturers to produce them safely.

The FDA had earlier removed tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro, from its shortage list. However, a trade group representing some compounders sued the FDA, prompting the agency to reconsider its decision.