Novo Nordisk on Tuesday asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban compounding pharmacies from making copycat versions of its popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs, which it said were too complex for those manufacturers to produce safely.

Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk (NVO) is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit compounding pharmacies from making off-brand versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in its blockbuster weight loss and diabetes medications.

FRANKFURT: The CEO of pharmaceuticals giant Roche, opens new tab said authorities should block the takeover of contract drug manufacturer Catalent, opens new tab by Novo Nordisk's controlling shareholder, as it could hit competition in the booming weight-loss drug industry.

Novo Nordisk wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent compounding pharmacies from manufacturing their own versions of the company’s popular weight loss drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic,

Novo Nordisk is among global pharma leaders in the diabetes and weight loss segments. Read why I think NVO stock is a hold.

Novo Nordisk has asked the FDA to block production of compounded copies of Ozempic, arguing that it’s too difficult to do safely. It’s the latest escalation in a brewing war between pharmaceutical companies and compounders.

The agency posted documents this week that the drugmaker had requested the drug be placed on the FDA's "Demonstrable Difficulties for Compounding Lists."