Novo reports more than EUR 400M expansion in Ireland facility
TL;DR
Novo Nordisk is expanding its Irish facility with over €400 million to boost Wegovy production for global markets, driven by strong U.S. sales and competition with Eli Lilly. The move aims to reclaim market share and supports the drug's pending EU approval.
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Novo reports more than EUR 400M expansion in Ireland facility
Novo Nordisk Announces Expansion of Irish Facility to Support Global Wegovy Supply
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has confirmed plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland, to produce Wegovy—a GLP-1 receptor agonist oral pill for obesity—primarily for international markets outside the U.S. The decision follows the drug's strong commercial debut in the U.S. and intensifying competition with rival Eli Lilly in the obesity treatment sector according to industry reports.
CEO Mike Doustdar emphasized the expansion underscores Novo's confidence in Wegovy's long-term potential, stating, "If we were about to throw in the towel, we would not be investing in factories in Ireland". While the company has not disclosed specific financial details of the project, the move aligns with its strategy to reclaim market share after losing ground to Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound. Wegovy's U.S. launch in January 2026 has been robust, with over 240,000 prescriptions filled within weeks, despite a brief disruption from unapproved compounded alternatives marketed by Hims & Hers as reported.
The Athlone facility, acquired from Alkermes in late 2023 for $91 million, already supports oral product development and manufacturing. The expansion aims to increase capacity for Wegovy production, with the pill pending regulatory approval in the European Union. Novo submitted filings to the European Medicines Agency in late 2025 and anticipates a decision early in 2026.
The CEO's comments also followed a legal dispute with Hims & Hers, which Novo successfully pressured to halt its compounded GLP-1 products through patent litigation and FDA collaboration. The company has defended its intellectual property rigorously, calling unapproved alternatives "dangerous and deceptive".
This expansion marks a strategic reversal for Novo, which had reduced staffing at the Athlone site by 25% in 2025 as part of broader cost-cutting measures. The shift reflects Wegovy's growing commercial significance, with Novo positioning it as a cornerstone of its portfolio in both diabetes and obesity care.
