Novo Nordisk
Maker of 5 FDA-approved GLP-1 medications · Bagsværd, Denmark · founded 1923
By the GLP Index editorial team Updated How we source
Novo Nordisk is the Danish drugmaker behind Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus — the semaglutide medications that launched the modern GLP-1 era.
GLP-1 medications Novo Nordisk makes
Every Novo Nordisk GLP-1 brand and the molecule inside it. Follow any link for our full guide on that medication.
- Ozempic 2017 semaglutide · type 2 diabetes Full guide
- Wegovy 2021 semaglutide · chronic weight management in adults (injection and tablets) Full guide
- Rybelsus 2019 semaglutide · type 2 diabetes Full guide
- Saxenda 2014 liraglutide · chronic weight management in adults Full guide
- Victoza 2010 liraglutide · type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older Full guide
Active ingredients
What Novo Nordisk is working on next
Investigational and newly approved GLP-1 assets beyond the current lineup.
- CagriSema Filed with FDA Once-weekly semaglutide combined with cagrilintide (an amylin analogue); an FDA decision is expected in late 2026.
- Amycretin Phase 3 A GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist in development as both a once-daily pill and a once-weekly injection.
Pipeline stages move quickly — dates reflect our last update (July 23, 2026) and can change with new trial data or FDA action.
Who is Novo Nordisk?
Novo Nordisk is a Danish pharmaceutical company founded in 1923, headquartered in Bagsværd just outside Copenhagen and employing roughly 55,000 people worldwide. It spent most of its first century as a global leader in insulin and diabetes care — the expertise that eventually produced semaglutide, the GLP-1 molecule inside Ozempic and Wegovy.
Today the company makes five FDA-approved GLP-1 medications — Ozempic and Rybelsus (semaglutide for type 2 diabetes), Wegovy (semaglutide for weight loss), and the earlier Saxenda and Victoza (liraglutide). The success of semaglutide turned Novo Nordisk into one of Europe's most valuable companies and made it the reference point for the entire GLP-1 category.
Its medications are manufactured at company-owned facilities in Denmark, the United States, and elsewhere under FDA and EMA oversight. A genuine Ozempic or Wegovy pen is always produced by Novo Nordisk itself — a useful thing to know when steering clear of counterfeit or grey-market products, which never originate from the manufacturer.
How to get Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 medications
These medications need a prescription. Telehealth providers we've reviewed can assess your eligibility online — here are a few, with our independent take.
FAQ
Common questions about Novo Nordisk
Who makes Ozempic?
Ozempic is made by Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company that developed semaglutide. The same company makes Wegovy and Rybelsus, which also use semaglutide.
Is Novo Nordisk the same company that makes Wegovy?
Yes. Novo Nordisk makes both Ozempic and Wegovy. They contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide — Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for chronic weight management.
What weight-loss and diabetes drugs does Novo Nordisk make?
Novo Nordisk makes Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy (all semaglutide) plus the older Saxenda and Victoza (liraglutide). It also has CagriSema and amycretin in late-stage development.
Where is Ozempic manufactured?
Novo Nordisk produces its GLP-1 medications at company-owned sites in Denmark, the United States, and other countries under FDA and EMA oversight. Authentic pens always come from Novo Nordisk, not third-party sellers.
Does Novo Nordisk make a weight-loss pill?
Yes. Rybelsus is an oral semaglutide tablet for type 2 diabetes, and Novo Nordisk now offers a daily Wegovy pill for weight loss. It is also developing an oral form of amycretin.
Is Novo Nordisk a reputable company?
Novo Nordisk is a century-old pharmaceutical company, publicly traded on the NYSE under NVO, whose medications are FDA- and EMA-approved. It is one of the largest and most established makers of diabetes and obesity treatments in the world.
Sources
Every claim on this page traces to primary literature or FDA labeling. Browse the full evidence library.
- Novo Nordisk — official company site (Novo Nordisk)
- Novo Nordisk A/S — History, Structure, Products & Facts (Britannica Money)
- Our medicines — diabetes and obesity products (Novo Nordisk)
Written by the GLP Index editorial team · Updated July 23, 2026 · How we source