If you’ve heard of Wegovy or Ozempic, you might be wondering who actually makes these breakthrough weight loss injections and how they work. Both medicines come from Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company with a long history of developing treatments for diabetes and obesity.

In this article, we’ll walk you through who Novo Nordisk are, how they developed Wegovy, the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy, what side effects to be aware of, and what new treatments might be available soon.

The history of Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk was established in the 1920s after Marie and August Krogh (one of Denmark’s first female medical graduates and a Nobel laureate, respectively) heard about a new discovery in Canada, insulin. Marie had diabetes, which at the time was only managed through “starvation dieting” [1], and often led to a short lifespan.

August travelled to Canada to seek permission to produce insulin in Denmark, which was granted, and after teaming up with scientists Hans Christian Hagedorn and August Kongsted, the brand was born, with the first patients beginning insulin treatment in 1923.

Fast forward to 1985, and the company launched the first insulin pen (NovoPen®), enabling people with type 1 diabetes to self-inject their treatment at home, paving the way for the injectable weight loss drugs like Wegovy, and the company’s first oral treatment for type 2 diabetes.

The link between weight loss treatments and insulin

Early injectable weight loss drugs began as medications used to manage blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. When using these medications, many people reported significant weight loss as a side effect, along with a loss of appetite and cravings — sometimes referred to as ‘food noise’. This discovery highlighted the opportunity for the first injectable weight loss treatments. 

Which weight loss treatments does Novo Nordisk produce?

Novo Nordisk produces Ozempic and Wegovy, two different treatments with the same active ingredient: semaglutide.

Semaglutide is part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the action of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1. This hormone helps control your appetite, slows down the time it takes for your stomach to empty after eating, and regulates your insulin and blood sugar levels, making it a powerful tool for weight loss management, specifically weight reduction.

It’s suitable for adults with obesity or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes). 

How Ozempic and Wegovy differ

Ozempic

Ozempic is possibly the best known GLP-1 receptor agonist available, first making headlines in late 2022 for its rapid weight loss results, with trials in adult patients showing results of up to 7% body weight reduction in a year. [2] Despite this, Ozempic is in fact a type 2 diabetes treatment, and has not been formally tested or approved for weight loss in the UK by the MHRA.

Wegovy

Wegovy is a once-weekly injectable medication approved by the MHRA for obesity and weight management. It can help you lose 15% of your body weight on average [3] when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Recently, Wegovy made headlines as an affordable alternative to popular obesity drug Mounjaro, which increased in price in September 2025. You can find out more about the difference between the two treatments here.

What are the side effects of semaglutide?

Common side effects are gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea or bloating, but these typically subside once you’ve adjusted to treatment.

Future treatments from Novo Nordisk

Alongside weight management products, Novo Nordisk is still committed to supporting patients with type 2 diabetes, and continues to develop treatments across a range of other metabolic and heart conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis).

At MedExpress, we’re here to help you reach your health goals. To learn more about our approach to weight loss and the different treatments available in the UK and Europe, and to find out what treatment is suitable for you on MedExpress.

References

1. Mazur A. Why were “starvation diets” promoted for diabetes in the pre-insulin period?. Nutrition Journal [Internet]. 2011 Mar 11;10(1). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3062586/
2. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Feb 10;384(11):989–1002. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
3. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2022 Jun 4;387(3). Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038