Novo Nordisk and Global Weight‑Loss Drug Advertising Restrictions

Prescription‑only weight‑loss medicines such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy are barred from direct‑to‑consumer advertising in most countries, including the United Kingdom. British law forces firms to promote their products only through disease‑awareness campaigns, restricting what they can say to the public.

The United States and New Zealand are the notable exceptions because the First Amendment limits government regulation of commercial speech and the FDA eased advertising rules in 1997. As a result, U.S. audiences see frequent television and online ads for these drugs, a stark contrast to the restrained approach seen elsewhere. The article describes a London exhibition funded by a large pharmaceutical firm that illustrates the challenges drug makers face when trying to raise awareness without violating advertising bans.