Ozempic and Wegovy made Novo Nordisk a fortune, but a patent cliff looms

Semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — generated little investor enthusiasm in 2012: Novo Nordisk's shares rose just 0.4 percent. Today it is the biggest sales success in the history of the Danish company, which has become one of Europe's most valuable corporations. However, the company must now face expiring patents, which will open the market to cheaper alternatives.