The blockbuster drug model has become a central driver of growth in the pharmaceutical industry, generating substantial economic and healthcare impacts. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist marketed under brand names such as Ozempic (subcutaneous, 0.25–1 mg for type 2 diabetes), Wegovy (subcutaneous, 2.4 mg for obesity), and Rybelsus (oral formulation), represents a contemporary example of a blockbuster pharmaceutical innovation demonstrating strong clinical performance alongside remarkable commercial success. This narrative review examines the clinical, economic, and policy dimensions of semaglutide’s market trajectory. Since its approval, semaglutide has significantly improved glycemic control, promoted weight reduction, and reduced cardiometabolic risk, while becoming a major contributor to Novo Nordisk’s financial growth and market leadership, most notably through the commercial launch of Ozempic, which served as a primary catalyst for the company’s rise to become one of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical corporations. Its rapid global adoption has expanded the therapeutic landscape for metabolic diseases and stimulated further pharmaceutical innovation. However, increasing demand, off-label utilization, supply shortages, access disparities, reimbursement challenges, and rising healthcare costs have introduced important regulatory, ethical, and sustainability considerations. Semaglutide illustrates the evolving relationship between biomedical innovation, pharmaceutical economics, and healthcare policy, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of blockbuster drug success in modern healthcare systems.
Jahić et al. (Thu,) studied this question.