Print（PDF/261KB） Oct. 14, 2025 Licensing

Sumitomo Pharma and Novo Nordisk Pharma Enter into a Co-Promotion Agreement for Wegovy Subcutaneous Injection, a Treatment for Obesity Disease, 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 Wegovy® Subcutaneous Injection, a once-weekly subcutaneous injection formulation of GLP-1 receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of obesity disease.

Wegovy® has been marketed since 22 February 2024 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 be jointly committed to promoting the product to healthcare professionals. The co-promotion activities by both companies will begin in November 2025.

Novo Nordisk Pharma is supporting the long-term health of people with obesity disease by committing to obesity treatment, in line with its vision of “creating an environment where all people with obesity disease receive optimal care and support.” Sumitomo Pharma engages in the development and promotion of multiple diabetes treatments, offering promising treatment options in this area. Novo Nordisk Pharma and Sumitomo Pharma have been jointly promoting Ozempic® since July 2025, under the co-promotion agreement for the type 2 diabetes treatment Ozempic®. Building upon the strong collaborative relationship established between the two companies, through this agreement for Wegovy®, we aim to contribute to the treatment of obesity disease.

“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 regarding the signing of this agreement. “Approximately 16 million people in Japan live with obesity disease, a condition that can cause life-threatening complications. Yet, only a few have been diagnosed and granted access to treatment even though safe and efficacious medicines exist today. With collaboration of the two companies under this agreement, we hope to be able to provide better access to treatment for people with obesity disease so they can enjoy high quality of lives and healthy longevity.”

“Following co-promotion agreement for Ozempic® Subcutaneous Injection, we are delighted that this partnership will further strengthen our collaboration with Novo Nordisk Pharma,” said Toru Kimura, Representative director, President and CEO of Sumitomo Pharma. “By leveraging our expertise and networks, we aim to deliver Wegovy® to a broader population living with obesity disease and contribute to making a meaningful impact on healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

Novo Nordisk Pharma and Sumitomo Pharma will work closely together in promotional activities to ensure that Wegovy® delivers as many people with obesity disease as possible, contributing to the improvement of the disease and enhancing their quality of life.

reference

About Wegovy® Subcutaneous Injection

Wegovy® Subcutaneous Injection [Non-proprietary name: semaglutide (genetical recombination)] is the first and only once-weekly GLP-1 RA approved for the treatment of obesity disease with either hypertension, dyslipidemia or type 2 diabetes, insufficiently controlled with diet and exercise therapies, and should meet either of BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 with two or more obesity-related comorbidities*, or BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2. It induces weight loss by reducing hunger, increasing feeling of fullness and thereby helping people eat less and reduce their calorie intake.¹

* Comorbidities required to diagnose obesity as a disease:

• 1.glucose intolerance (including type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance)
• 2.dyslipidemia
• 3.hypertension
• 4.hyperuricemia/gout
• 5.coronary artery diseases
• 6.cerebral infarction
• 7.nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• 8.menstrual abnormality and pregnancy complication
• 9.sleep apnoea syndrome/obesity hypoventilation syndrome
• 10.musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis affecting the knee, hip, and finger joints, as well as spinal osteoarthritis (spondylosis)
• 11.obesity-related renal disease

Reference:

• 1.Blundell J, Finlayson G, Axelsen M, et al. Effects of once-weekly semaglutide on appetite, energy intake, control of eating, food preference and body weight in subjects with obesity. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2017; 19:1242-1251.

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 78,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. The Japanese subsidiary, Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., was established in 1980. For more information, please see the website. (https://www.novonordisk.co.jp)