By Mackenzie Tatananni
DOW JONES–Novo Nordisk shares are rising after the British health regulator approved higher doses of the weight-loss drug Wegovy.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Friday that it had approved a maximum dose of up to 7.2 milligrams (mg) of semaglutide per week – a significant increase from the previous limit of 2.4 mg. The dose is intended to be administered in three separate injections and is strictly intended for adult patients with obesity.
Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, has helped Novo Nordisk establish itself in the weight loss market. Ozempic first came to market in 2017 after being approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, followed in 2021 by Wegovy for chronic weight management. Despite this pioneering advantage, Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide has gained significant market share, forcing Novo Nordisk to increase its competitiveness.
A step in this direction was the introduction of an oral version (tablet) of the weight loss therapy. The Wegovy pill was introduced in the US on January 5th; A final decision on approval in the UK is expected by the end of the year.
Analysts at Berenberg expect the tablet to bring in around $1 billion this year. Higher-than-expected sales could offset obstacles such as price cuts in the U.S. and expiring patents, analysts said.
The shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company rose by 4.5 percent in Copenhagen. Eli Lilly shares fell by 0.3 percent in premarket trading.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 16, 2026 08:11 ET (13:11 GMT)
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