Novo Nordisk Ensures No Supply Shortages for Weight Loss Injections in Switzerland and Germany

In a recent announcement, Novo Nordisk, a leading player in the development of innovative injections for obesity treatment, has confirmed that supply shortages in Switzerland and Germany have been resolved. The company, headquartered in Copenhagen, produces active pharmaceutical ingredients and injection systems for its diabetes and obesity medications from its facility in Bagsvaerd.

Maziar Mike Doustdar, who leads the international operations of Novo Nordisk from Zurich, oversees a substantial revenue stream of 112 billion Danish kroner (approximately 15 billion Swiss francs). His responsibilities encompass all company activities outside the United States. Under his leadership, Novo Nordisk has experienced impressive growth, with overall revenue rising by over 25% to nearly 38 billion Swiss francs last year.

Doustdar's journey with Novo Nordisk began at the age of 22 as an office clerk in Vienna, where he performed various administrative tasks. His career progressed through numerous roles in finance, IT, logistics, and marketing before he assumed management responsibilities in 2007. Since then, he has steadily climbed the corporate ladder and now manages the entire international business.

As the market for weight-loss injections continues to expand, analysts predict substantial potential revenues. The obesity treatment market is expected to reach values between 100 and 160 billion dollars in the coming years, with Novo Nordisk leading the sector with an estimated 8.5 billion dollars in revenue from obesity therapies last year.

However, Doustdar has refrained from making specific revenue forecasts, opting instead to leave such projections to financial analysts. He notes the current low penetration of obesity treatments, with approximately 15 million individuals receiving injections from Novo Nordisk or competitors like Eli Lilly, in contrast to a global population of nearly one billion individuals affected by obesity.

Though the potential for widespread medication use exists, Doustdar emphasizes that it is unrealistic for hundreds of millions of people to rely on these treatments, both from a health and financial standpoint. Instead, he anticipates that up to 100 million patients may benefit from weight-loss injections and new oral medications in the future.

Currently, there are no oral medications available that operate within the same pharmacological class as the existing injections. Nonetheless, Novo Nordisk has recently launched an oral diabetes treatment and plans to introduce a similar product for obesity, with the U.S. market being the initial target.

Despite the successes, the pharmaceutical industry faces challenges, particularly regarding the high dropout rates among patients using obesity treatments. Reports indicate that many patients discontinue their injections after seeing initial weight loss, not considering the risk of regaining weight. Financial costs also play a significant role, as many patients still bear the treatment expenses themselves.

In Switzerland, tens of thousands of individuals are currently utilizing these new injections, and Doustdar has declared that supply issues are no longer a concern. The product Wegovy is now readily available for patients across Switzerland and Germany. Unlike in several other markets, Novo Nordisk does not operate a production facility in Switzerland but collaborates with local manufacturers like Bachem and Ypsomed for the production of its weight-loss injections.

As Novo Nordisk continues to monitor competitive dynamics, especially from companies like Roche, Doustdar remains optimistic about the company's edge over latecomers in the obesity treatment market. He attributes this advantage not only to the extensive research the company has conducted over the past two decades but also to its unmatched production capabilities and brand recognition in weight-loss therapies.