Ozempic is made by Novo Nordisk A/S, a Danish pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark, that is the world’s largest insulin manufacturer and the global leader in GLP-1 therapies.
Ozempic is known as a weekly injectable medication for type 2 diabetes that also produces significant weight loss as a secondary effect, a combination that has made it one of the most discussed and prescribed medications in the world since 2023.
Ozempic is made by Novo Nordisk A/S, a publicly traded Danish company listed on the Nasdaq Copenhagen exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange as an ADR under the ticker NVO, with the Novo Nordisk Foundation retaining a majority voting stake.
Knowing who makes Ozempic helps patients and caregivers understand the company behind this medication, where it is produced, and why demand has so dramatically outpaced supply in recent years.
This article covers Ozempic’s manufacturer, where it is made, the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy, the supply shortage history, and how Novo Nordisk compares to Eli Lilly in the GLP-1 drug market.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Ozempic?
Ozempic is owned by Novo Nordisk A/S, which holds the patents and trademarks for the drug. Novo Nordisk discovered, developed, and brought Ozempic to market without any co-commercialization partner.
Novo Nordisk is majority-controlled by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, a Danish non-profit entity that holds approximately 77% of the company’s voting rights. The Foundation uses Novo Nordisk’s profits to fund scientific and humanitarian programs globally.
The company was founded in 1923 in Copenhagen and has spent a century focused on diabetes care, making it arguably the company most responsible for keeping millions of diabetic patients alive through insulin manufacturing in developing markets.
Where Is Ozempic Manufactured?
Novo Nordisk manufactures Ozempic and other semaglutide products at multiple facilities across its global manufacturing network.
The primary production hub for semaglutide is in Kalundborg, Denmark, which is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing complexes in the world. Novo Nordisk has invested billions of dollars expanding the Kalundborg site specifically to meet the unprecedented global demand for Ozempic and Wegovy.
Novo Nordisk also produces at facilities in Hjørring and Odense in Denmark, Chartres in France, Clayton, North Carolina in the United States, Tianjin in China, and Koriyama in Japan. The US plant in Clayton, North Carolina plays a growing role in supplying the North American market.
What Is the Difference Between Ozempic and Wegovy?
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but they are different products approved for different purposes at different doses.
Ozempic was FDA-approved in December 2017 as a once-weekly injection for adults with type 2 diabetes, to improve blood sugar control. Wegovy was FDA-approved in June 2021 at a higher dose of semaglutide specifically for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Both are made by Novo Nordisk. The off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss in people who do not have diabetes has driven much of the drug’s cultural awareness, though Wegovy is the product specifically designed and approved for that purpose.
Why Has Ozempic Been in Short Supply?
The explosion in demand for Ozempic and Wegovy, driven by widespread awareness of their weight loss effects, far exceeded what Novo Nordisk had planned for when it built its manufacturing capacity.
Novo Nordisk spent more than $6 billion on manufacturing expansion between 2022 and 2024, primarily at the Kalundborg site in Denmark, to try to keep pace with demand. Despite this investment, shortages persisted in many markets into 2025.
Compounded versions of semaglutide were produced by US compounding pharmacies during the shortage period, which the FDA permitted under shortage rules. Novo Nordisk actively lobbied to have compounding shut down once supply improved, and the FDA took steps to end compounding in 2025.
Ozempic vs Mounjaro vs Saxenda: Who Makes Each?
All three are injectable GLP-1 or related medications used for diabetes and weight management but from different manufacturers. Ozempic (semaglutide) is made by Novo Nordisk. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and its weight management version Zepbound are made by Eli Lilly and Company, an American pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Saxenda (liraglutide) is also made by Novo Nordisk, using an earlier-generation GLP-1 drug that preceded semaglutide.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are the two dominant companies in the GLP-1 space, and their rivalry in the diabetes and obesity drug markets has become one of the most commercially significant pharmaceutical competitions of the 2020s.
Clinical trial data suggest Mounjaro may produce greater weight loss than Ozempic on average, though individual patient response varies and the choice between these drugs is a medical decision for the prescribing physician.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Ozempic
Is Ozempic made by a US company?
No. Ozempic is made by Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company. However, Novo Nordisk operates a manufacturing facility in Clayton, North Carolina, and has invested significantly in US production capacity. The company’s global headquarters and primary manufacturing are in Denmark.
Is Ozempic the same as semaglutide?
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, the active ingredient. Wegovy is also a brand name for semaglutide at a higher dose. Both are made by Novo Nordisk. Generic semaglutide is not yet available in the United States, as Novo Nordisk’s patents for the compound have not yet expired.
Where is Novo Nordisk based?
Novo Nordisk is headquartered in Bagsværd, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark. The company was founded in 1923 and has been focused on diabetes care for its entire history. The Novo Nordisk Foundation, a Danish charitable foundation, holds majority voting control of the company.
Is Ozempic available as a generic?
As of 2026, generic Ozempic (semaglutide) is not yet available in the United States. Novo Nordisk holds active patents protecting the compound and the injectable pen delivery device. An oral version of semaglutide, sold as Rybelsus, is also patented and available only as the branded product.
This article covers factual information about who manufactures Ozempic. Ozempic is a prescription medication. Always consult your doctor before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.