The Danish manufacturer of weight loss syringes, Novo Nordisk, is confronted with criticism and competition. After the patents expire, other countries are preparing for the entry of cheaper generics – with possible effects on Switzerland too.
Mar 25, 2026, 8:44 p.mMar 25, 2026, 8:44 p.m
Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are among the most talked about in the world. Originally developed as a treatment for diabetes, the preparations are now considered an effective means of weight loss. Now new topics are coming into focus:
FDA reprimands Novo Nordisk
Diabetes and weight loss injections such as Ozempic and Wegovy come from Novo Nordisk. In the USA, the Danish pharmaceutical company is now the focus of the FDA. The company is said to have failed to properly report potential side effects.
After an inspection, the FDA criticized the following violations of the reporting requirement:
- After taking the weight loss injection liraglutide, a person suffered a stroke and became disabled. The person is said to have stated that there was no connection with the active ingredient. Nevertheless, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stipulates that all relevant events must be reported – regardless of whether there is a causal relationship or not.
- Novo Nordisk did not properly report another death of a person who had taken the drug semaglutide. The company classified the case as “invalid” because the person concerned could not be clearly identified. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar.
- The FDA also accuses Novo Nordisk of not adequately tracking evidence of possible serious incidents. One person developed suicidal thoughts after taking semaglutide, and in another case it even resulted in suicide. According to the drug authority’s assessment, in such cases the company should have immediately initiated further investigations and obtained additional information, such as possible previous mental illnesses.
Thanks to the success of Wegovy and Ozempic, Novo Nordisk is now one of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies in the world. Image: keystone
In the USA – as in Switzerland – strict reporting requirements apply to medicines. Even after approval, possible side effects must be reported to the authorities.
The US Food and Drug Administration does not establish a direct link between Ozempic and the deaths. The criticism is directed at the incomplete fulfillment of the reporting obligation: There is “reason for concern as to whether the company is able to monitor the safety of its products.” Swissmedic currently sees no acute need for action Daily Gazette reported.
Have you had any experience with the weight loss injection and would you like to tell us about it? Then write me a message to: chantal.staeubli@watson.ch
Expected flood of cheaper alternatives
Novo Nordisk will soon face competition: the patents for semaglutide are expiring. This opens the door for pharmaceutical companies to reproduce the active ingredient – so-called generics. These medications are usually significantly cheaper because there are no longer any research and development costs. They often only cost a fraction of the original. In Switzerland, the Ozempic weight loss injection currently costs 106 francs per month.
India in particular, the largest producer of generic drugs in the world, is preparing for the expiry of patent protection. Market observers assume that after the patent for semaglutide expires, numerous copycat products could come onto the market within a short period of time. The development follows a familiar pattern in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, which is known for its intense competition and rapid production of generics. A comparable example is provided by the drug sitagliptin, which is used to treat diabetes, not for weight loss. After patent protection ended in 2022, around 30 products came onto the market within a month, and a year later there were almost 100.
The problem: The cheap availability could lead to inappropriate use – for example for purely cosmetic weight loss without medical supervision. In addition, the preparations can be ordered directly from abroad to Switzerland without being tested or approved by Swissmedic.
The preparations will therefore continue to be discussed intensively in the future.