Print（PDF/188KB） May 30, 2025 Licensing

Sumitomo Pharma and Novo Nordisk Pharma Enter into a Co-Promotion Agreement for Ozempic Subcutaneous Injection, a Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes, in Japan

Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; Representative Director, President and CEO: Toru Kimura) announced today that Sumitomo Pharma and Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan; President and Representative Director: Kasper Bødker Mejlvang) have entered into a co-promotion agreement (hereinafter referred to as "this agreement") in Japan for Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection 2 mg, a once-weekly subcutaneous GLP-1 receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic® has been marketed since 29 June 2020^*1 by Novo Nordisk Pharma in Japan. Under this agreement, Novo Nordisk Pharma will be responsible for maintenance of the marketing approval as well as manufacture and supply of the product and Novo Nordisk Pharma and Sumitomo Pharma will jointly initiate to promoting the product to healthcare professionals in July 2025.

Novo Nordisk Pharma provides a wide range of products and high-quality services to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes, while Sumitomo Pharma engages in the development and promotion of multiple diabetes treatments, offering promising treatment options in this area. Through this agreement of Novo Nordisk Pharma and Sumitomo Pharma both having wide experience and strength in promoting products in diabetes care, we aim to make Ozempic® accessible to more people with diabetes who requires this treatment.

“We are very pleased with this co-promotion agreement with Sumitomo Pharma which has a wealth of experience in promoting the medicines to physicians in different areas of care,” said Kasper Bødker Mejlvang, President and Representative Director of Novo Nordisk Pharma. “We expect that collaboration of the two companies with expertise in diabetes care under this agreement will allow our contribution to treatment of chronic diseases by supporting glycemic management and health outcomes of more people with type 2 diabetes in Japan.”

“This agreement will further strengthen ties between the two companies in diabetes care,” said Toru Kimura, Representative director, President and CEO of Sumitomo Pharma. “We will contribute to the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes by providing them with Ozempic® through our collaboration.”

Novo Nordisk Pharma and Sumitomo Pharma will work closely together in promotional activities to ensure that Ozempic® delivers many people with type 2 diabetes, contributing to the improvement of the disease and enhancing their quality of life.

Reference

About Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection

Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection (generic name: semaglutide [genetical recombination]) is a once-weekly human glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes¹. Ozempic® is currently marketed in 75 countries and 7 million people with type 2 diabetes are currently being treated with Ozempic® worldwide².

• *1: Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection SD was launched on 29 June 2020 but its marketing was terminated due to its deletion from the NHI Drug Price List in April 2025. Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection 2mg has been marketed since 22 May 2022.

References

1. 1.Electronic Package Insert for Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection 2 mg revised in February 2024 (Ver. 3).
2. 2.Novo Nordisk Data on File. IQVIA Ozempic and Rybelsus patient numbers March 2025.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. The Japanese subsidiary, Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., was established in 1980. The Japanese subsidiary, Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., was established in 1980. For more information, please see the website. (https://www.novonordisk.co.jp)