Now, a new drug is shaking the industry, with Ireland’s pharma capital once again at the forefront.

Ozempic, a drug initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes, has taken the world by storm due to its far-reaching impact.

Produced by Danish pharmaceutical Novo Nordisk, Ozempic has evolved from a specialised drug for diabetes into a key player in the battle against obesity and metabolic disorders, with its unparalleled rise reflecting not only a major medical breakthrough but a cultural shift in health and weight loss management.

As a result of skyrocketing demand, Novo Nordisk has struggled to keep pace with supply and has invested billions in manufacturing to ramp up production. However, the demand for the industry’s newest blockbuster requires more than just one player.

Shortages have left patients already on the medications frantically searching for their next dose and stymied those who want to start taking them.

Limited supplies delayed the drugs’ launches in some countries and prevented Novo Nordisk from introducing a version of its drug that can be taken by mouth.

This week, rival Eli Lilly announced that it will commit €1.6bn to expand its manufacturing footprint in Ireland, marking one of the largest investments in the State’s history, unveiling its new $800m (€726m) facility expansion in Kinsale, Co Cork.

The facility, where five of eight blockbuster medicines produced by the giant are made, began production last year to meet the demand for the company’s diabetes and obesity treatments.

Eli Lilly also announced a $1bn (€907m) expansion of its Limerick site to increase production of biologic active ingredients for the company’s portfolio of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

This additional investment is part of the most ambitious manufacturing expansion agenda in the company’s history.

Market share

As the pharma giant ramps up production of the industry’s latest blockbuster medications, it is believed that the market for weight loss and obesity drugs could be roughly split 50-50 between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk by the end of this year.

In addition, some analysts forecast the market for new weight loss drugs could reach $130bn (€117bn) annually by the early 2030s.

A yearlong study published this week showed that Eli Lilly’s blockbuster obesity shot Zepbound helped people with type 1 diabetes to lose more than a fifth of their body weight, suggesting the drug may help patients with the less common autoimmune form of the disease which is likely to increase demand further.

Eli Lilly has been operating in Ireland for over 45 years and employs 3,500 people, with more than half of the company’s global blockbuster drugs being produced at its Kinsale site.

While Cork has already proved itself to be successful in the production of industry winners, Eli Lilly’s obesity and weight loss drugs are different, making them an even easier sell.

Unlike most chronic medications, people actually want to take it.

“With a lot of chronic medications we take, we don’t feel any different, sometimes we feel worse,” said Eli Lilly chief executive David Ricks.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner at the official opening of Eli Lilly’s Kinsale manufacturing site expansion this week, Mr Ricks said: “With this one, people feel immediately better. They’re losing weight, and feeling more active. There is a consumer self-reinforcing piece to this.”

Most industry marvels do not get exposure from popular culture, but Ozempic and its relatives have been hailed by celebrities and endorsed across red carpets and social media. Advocates include Elon Musk, Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Osbourne, Oprah Winfrey, and Kelly Clarkson, who have all admitted to using some form of weight loss drug.

Skyrocketing demand

“Obesity and chronic weight management is recognised broadly as a hugely important contributor to health,” said Mr Ricks.

“People also want to be on these medications. In the past, they have not worked that well, but this one is very successful, it works immediately, almost for everyone.

“Cork should take pride in being able to arrest one of the most important health factors on the planet and ship those products around the world.”

The chief executive added that the Kinsale site was already at the centre of the company’s future progress.

“We are already shipping commercial products to the US from here, and eventually to many more markets around the world.”

He said that Cork will “no doubt” be at the epicentre of the production of its new blockbusters, continuing its tradition of being at the forefront of major pharmaceutical blockbusters.

Looking forward, Mr Ricks said that while five out of its eight blockbuster drugs are already produced in Kinsale, room for expansion remains.

“It is possible. We are moving our strategy from single source to dual. Many businesses learned during the pandemic about the fragility of supply chains, so are increasing or mirroring processes both in the US and in Europe.

“That may mean more work coming here from the three that are currently missing.”

Hence, while Cork already has a demonstrated history being at the epicentre of the pharmaceutical industry’s latest innovations, its newest challenge may be its easiest yet, with its latest product, for better or worse, already able to sell itself.