Novo Nordisk, Indonesia's Bio Farma set to package insulin
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has signed a deal with Indonesia's state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma to package insulin to combat diabetes in the Southeast Asian country. The agreement coincides with Novo's century-long focus on insulin being shifted to a more recent class of medications known as GLP-1 agonists. Novo is a leading participant in the worldwide insulin industry. This class includes the diabetic medication Ozempic and the weight-loss medication Wegovy, whose manufacturing is being increased by Novo to keep up with demand. In November, Novo's CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen acknowledged that the company was shifting its focus from insulin to its new blockbuster, Wegovy, and stated that the company was prioritizing the treatment of obesity as a precursor to type 2 diabetes, given that many people with that type of diabetes also struggle with weight issues. According to figures from the International Diabetes Federation from 2021, 10.8% of Indonesia's adult population, or over 19 million individuals, have diabetes. Bio Farma will supply the regional manufacturing facilities, and Novo Nordisk will supply the "expertise in diabetes treatment and insulin production".
