How Weight-Loss Drug is Scaling Novo Nordisk Manufacturing

Novo Nordisk has unveiled plans to expand its Athlone facility in Ireland to produce its increasingly popular Wegovy weight loss treatment for markets outside the US.

The expansion arrives as the company faces growing competition and anticipates revenue challenges in 2026.

Karsten Munk Knudsen, Chief Financial Officer at Novo Nordisk, reflects on the company's performance, sayuing: "Reporting our full-year results for 2025, we look back on a year where we delivered 10% sales growth, progressed our expanding research and development (R&D) pipeline and entered exciting partnerships to bring innovation to millions more patients."

The company's 2025 financial performance was driven primarily by a 41% rise in Wegovy sales, though fourth-quarter results revealed a 2% sales decline and 4% lower operating profit.

CEO Mike Doustdar told Bloomberg that its Athlone facility in Ireland will be expanded, as part of Novo'’s strategy to regain leadership in the weight-loss market, which the pharma company has been fighting for since it lost ground to rival Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of the injectable Zepbound.

Mike said: “If we were about to throw in the towel we would not be investing in factories in Ireland.”

Ireland consistently ranks as one of the world’s top exporters of medicinal and pharmaceutical products and is a global hub for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Many major pharma companies operate in the country, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie.

Writing on LinkedIn, Mike said: “I’m in the US talking to investors and media during a time where Novo Nordisk is getting a lot of headlines and questions. What was my message to them?

“Two billion people live with obesity, overweight or diabetes worldwide. Our job is simple: serve as many as possible with safe and science-backed options that fit their needs and preferences.”

R&D in weight-loss

Novo announced at the start of 2026 that it would be expanding access to Wegovy in the US through new formulations and lower-cost options, tackling supply issues and competition by introducing vials alongside pre-filled pens.

SVP of Marketing and Patient Solutions at Novo Ed Cinca said: “We know there are people who are interested in addressing their weight but have been waiting on the sidelines for a medicine that was right for them.

“For many of them, that wait is over as we can now offer the powerful efficacy of Wegovy in a once-daily pill that demonstrated about 17% weight loss, if all patients stayed on the treatment.”

The vial allows patients who prefer injections to use the same medication without oral administration.

'The strategy is working'

Mike added on LinkedIn: “While it’s still early days, I’m encouraged to see that our strategy to expand the market is working: we’re in the midst of one of the most successful pharma launches ever.

“This is the direct result of having a strong pipeline, 100+ years of innovation, manufacturing capabilities that can deliver at global scale and a commercial strategy we’ve sharpened to focus on what matters most.”

The news of expansion in Ireland and the vials comes  after the company announced its 2025 full-year results and 2026 guidance.

The results showed a 10% sales increased to US$49.086bn, thanks in part to a 41% rise in Wegovy sales. Net debt for the year was US$15.155bn, following acquisitions.

In 2026, the company expects sales and operating profit to decline by 5-13%, driven by competition and pricing pressures in the US.