Wegovy, a medication for weight management, gained widespread attention following its approval, yet its availability has been a recurring concern. This article delves into the current state of Wegovy’s supply, the factors contributing to its availability challenges, and practical steps individuals can take to navigate this landscape, including insights into the manufacturer’s efforts.
Current Availability Landscape
The current availability of Wegovy has seen improvements, though some dosage strengths remain challenging to obtain. As of October 2024, all doses were listed as available by the FDA, with Novo Nordisk regularly shipping all strengths to wholesalers. Despite this, the smallest starter dose, 0.25 mg, had limited availability as of early August 2024, indicating ongoing supply constraints for new patients.
Pharmacies and patients have experienced fluctuating access, particularly for lower starter doses. Novo Nordisk previously limited the supply of these initial doses to ensure continuity of care for existing patients on higher maintenance doses. While the FDA removed semaglutide injections, including Wegovy, from its drug shortages list in February 2025, indicating supply meets or exceeds demand, some patients may still encounter difficulties. This means overall supply has increased, but obtaining the medication can vary by specific dosage and local pharmacy stock.
Factors Contributing to Supply Challenges
The main factor contributing to Wegovy’s supply challenges has been a surge in demand. Following FDA approval and widespread recognition for weight loss, new patient prescriptions quadrupled in less than a year. This intense demand significantly outpaced initial manufacturing capacity, creating a substantial gap between supply and need.
Manufacturing capacity limitations and the complexity of producing semaglutide, Wegovy’s active ingredient, have compounded the supply situation. The intricate process involves precise production and packaging into injectable pens, creating bottlenecks. Global supply chain disruptions have also affected the availability of necessary components and raw materials, adding complexity to production and distribution.
Navigating Limited Supply
For individuals prescribed Wegovy or considering treatment amidst supply constraints, proactive communication with healthcare providers is beneficial. Your doctor can offer guidance on managing your treatment plan, including adjusting dosage or temporarily spacing out injections if supply interruptions occur. Discussing individual needs and concerns with your healthcare provider is important.
Engaging with your pharmacy can also provide insights into local availability. Pharmacists often have the most up-to-date information on supply and can inform you about potential delays or when new stock is expected. Some pharmacies maintain waiting lists, which can help distribute the medication fairly as it becomes available. If Wegovy is unavailable, healthcare providers can explore alternative FDA-approved weight-loss medications or discuss other treatment approaches, such as lifestyle modifications.
Manufacturer’s Outlook and Future Supply
Novo Nordisk, Wegovy’s manufacturer, has made significant investments to increase production capacity and address demand. The company announced plans to invest billions in boosting manufacturing capabilities, including $6 billion in Denmark and $4.1 billion for a new U.S. factory in North Carolina. These investments aim to expand capacity for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and fill-finish operations for injectable products.
Novo Nordisk also acquired three manufacturing sites from Catalent for $11 billion, expected to enhance filling capacity starting in 2026. The company intends to gradually increase overall Wegovy supply, particularly lower starter doses, throughout the year. While these efforts are designed to meet growing demand, Novo Nordisk anticipates overall demand may continue to exceed supply for some time.