March 28, 2025 – BANGKOK: Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company specializing in the development and production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, launched its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in Thailand. The announcement was made by the company’s executive on Monday.
Wegovy’s launch in Thailand marks the injectable drug’s first entry into the Southeast Asia market. Wegovy, initially launched in 2021, has played a key role in making Novo Nordisk Europe’s most valuable listed company.
Wegovy is now available in over a dozen countries, including Japan, China, and the United States, with Thailand being its most recent market. Novo Nordisk received the Thai FDA approval back in 2023, as per Canal Bruland, vice president and general manager of the company’s Thai subsidiary.
Ozempic, Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug, which shares the same active ingredients as Wegovy, is already available in Thailand. The latest addition will further help the company to tackle the rising obesity burden in Thailand as well as capture a significant share of the growing market.
According to data from Thailand’s Health Ministry, around 42% of the nation’s adult population is considered obese. This high prevalence of obesity is making Thailand a happy hunting ground for anti-obesity drug manufacturers like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
“About 1% of Thailand’s GDP is used for health-related costs that come with obesity and productivity loss”, says Bruland. Introduction of cutting-edge weight-loss medications like Wegovy will look to address this issue by reducing the obesity burden. This will also positively impact the overall growth of the anti-obesity drug industry.
This decision comes after the company increased its production capacity to meet growing demand for such medications. In the words of Lucas Montarce, Chief Financial Officer, “We are planning new launches as we continue to ramp up supply production to meet rising demand”.
According to Coherent Market Insights (CMI), the global anti-obesity drug market is set to record a CAGR of 16.1% during the forecast period. Total market size will likely reach US$ 9,742.6 million by 2032. Increasing prevalence of obesity, rising focus on reducing weight, and continuous new product launches will spearhead this future growth.
“The launch of novel weight-loss drugs by companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in lucrative pockets like Thailand will likely boost growth of the anti-obesity drug industry during the forecast period. This move will also foster competition, especially with existing players like Eli Lilly, and reshape consumer preferences,” says a senior analyst at CMI.
Amid rising prevalence of diabetes, demand for anti-obesity drugs is expected to rise rapidly. This will likely create lucrative revenue generation opportunities for pharmaceutical companies like Nova Nordisk and others.
Patients in developing nations like Thailand often struggle to access effective diabetes and weight-loss medications. Novo Nordisk’s launch can address this by offering effective medications at affordable prices. Increased availability of highly effective medications like Wegovy may also reduce patients’ dependence on traditional weight loss methods.
Top pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will look to ramp up investments in research and development (R&D) to develop new medications with better safety and efficacy. They will also focus on launching their products in attractive nations with growth potential.
Sources:
News Outlet: Reuters
