Ozempic and Wegovy may not have been developed if not for the insistence of Novo Nordisk’s head of research, Mads Krogsgaard.
Leadership at the Danish company in the early 1990s were skeptical about developing drugs to treat obesity. Krogsgaard saw things differently.
“I started trying to convince them that it’s not getting on the bike,” Krogsgaard said. “If you’re genetically predisposed, living in the environment we are in today, you are at very high risk. And something should be done about that.”
Novo Nordisk now makes Ozempic and Wegovy, prescription drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, which have become wildly popular.
From Diabetes to Laundry Detergent to Weight Loss
While Krogsgaard convinced company leadership to study obesity drugs, it was Lotte Knudsen who made breakthroughs in the research. Her first job at Novo Nordisk was on the enzyme team researching ways of making sure reds and whites didn’t run in the wash. She views her research on detergent and obesity the same way.
“It’s the same story, right, of just wanting to make a product that’s useful,” Knudsen said.
In the early 90s, she came across a study about GLP-1, a naturally occurring gut hormone that lowered blood sugar levels and suppressed appetite. Knudsen thought that if GLP-1 could be harnessed into a drug, it could revolutionize treatment for both diabetes and obesity. She took the study to her boss, head of research Mads Krogsgaard.
“She was the first one to march into my office, with red hair, and very fired up, showing me a publication that was not even published yet,” Krogsgaard said. “She was talking very agitatedly about this. And I was getting excited.”
Novo Nordisk spent the next 20 years working on that GLP-1 molecule before Ozempic finally made it to market as a Type 2 diabetes drug in 2017. It took another four years for Wegovy to be approved for weight loss.
The drugs turned Novo Nordisk from a niche player into a company bigger than Exxon Mobil and Procter & Gamble. With a market cap of $600 billion, Novo Nordisk is now Europe’s largest company.
Despite the meteoric success of the drugs she helped develop, Knudsen still considers herself a “nerdy little scientist who kind of found home here in this company for 35 years.”
Interview between Time.news Editor (TNE) and Mads Krogsgaard, Head of Research at Novo Nordisk (MK)
TNE: Welcome, Mads. It’s great to have you here today. Your journey with Novo Nordisk and the development of Ozempic and Wegovy is fascinating. Let’s start at the beginning—what was the atmosphere like at Novo Nordisk in the early 90s regarding obesity research?
MK: Thank you! It’s a pleasure to be here. In the early 90s, there was a lot of skepticism around developing drugs for obesity. Many in the leadership saw obesity as more of a lifestyle issue rather than a medical condition. However, I felt strongly that we needed to approach it from a scientific perspective.
TNE: You once mentioned, “If you’re genetically predisposed, living in the environment we are in today, you are at very high risk.” Can you elaborate on that thought?
MK: Absolutely. Our genetics significantly influence how our bodies respond to food and environment. In today’s society, filled with processed foods and sedentary lifestyles, individuals with a genetic predisposition to obesity face monumental challenges. As researchers, we have an obligation to explore medical solutions that can help these individuals.
TNE: Fast forward to the groundbreaking work your team did. It’s intriguing to hear that Lotte Knudsen played a pivotal role in this research. How did she contribute to the development of these drugs?
MK: Lotte’s contributions were invaluable. Her passion was palpable. She recognized the potential of GLP-1, a gut hormone that lowers blood sugar and suppresses appetite. When she brought a study to me about its properties, it was a spark that ignited our efforts. She was the first to march into my office, with her characteristic enthusiasm, eager to explore this avenue.
TNE: That’s inspiring! It sounds like there was a spirit of collaboration between you two. What was it about Lotte’s approach that resonated with you?
MK: Lotte has this remarkable ability to connect seemingly unrelated areas. At her first job, she was working on laundry detergent, focusing on the science behind color stability, and then she seamlessly transitioned that analytical mindset to tackling obesity. It’s all about creating useful products, and she brought that ethos into our research.
TNE: With both Ozempic and Wegovy gaining immense popularity, do you find that public perception has shifted in terms of understanding obesity as a medical condition?
MK: Yes, I believe there’s a growing awareness. The success of these drugs has prompted discussions around the medical aspects of obesity, shifting the narrative from personal failure to recognizing it as a chronic condition deserving of scientific and medical attention.
TNE: As we look to the future, what do you hope for the next steps in obesity and diabetes research at Novo Nordisk?
MK: Our goal is to continue innovating in this field. We are exploring new treatments and therapies that can enhance patient outcomes. It’s crucial to reinforce the message that science can provide solutions for complex health challenges like diabetes and obesity. We want to create a comprehensive approach to managing these conditions.
TNE: Thank you, Mads, for sharing your insights. It’s clear that your passion for science and commitment to improving lives have forged a new path in treating obesity and diabetes.
MK: Thank you for having me! I hope our discussion raises awareness and fosters more conversations around these essential health issues.
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This interview emphasizes the importance of leadership and collaborative efforts in scientific advancement, spotlighting the groundbreaking work that Krogsgaard and Knudsen undertook in the development of Ozempic and Wegovy.