Novo Nordisk Debuts Wegovy Pill in UAE as Q1 Sales Hit $351 Million
NVO•Novo Nordisk recorded $351 million in Q1 Wegovy pill sales, with over 2 million U.S. prescriptions since launch. The company launched Wegovy in the UAE—where 28% of adults have obesity—marking its first market outside the U.S. and targeting 7.5 million overweight individuals by 2035.
1. International Launch
The United Arab Emirates became the first market outside the United States to receive the Wegovy pill, marking the start of Novo Nordisk’s international rollout. Additional launches are scheduled in select markets during the second half of the year based on patient demand and healthcare infrastructure.
2. Strong First-Quarter Debut
In the first quarter, Wegovy pill generated 2.26 billion DKK ($351 million) in sales and topped 2 million prescriptions since its January U.S. launch, with roughly 1.3 million prescriptions filled during the quarter alone. Shares climbed 0.3% in premarket trading following the UAE announcement.
3. Clinical Trial Results
Approval in the UAE was supported by the Oasis 4 trial, where daily use of the Wegovy pill yielded an average 17% body weight reduction and about one third of participants lost 20% or more. The safety profile remained consistent with previous Semaglutide-based treatments.
4. Market Opportunity and Competition
The UAE market offers a significant opportunity, with 28% of adults affected by obesity and projected overweight population reaching 7.5 million by 2035. Novo Nordisk faces competition from Eli Lilly’s oral obesity drug Foundayo and potential shifts in U.S. drug-pricing policies.
