The Danish pharmaceutical company said the move is intended to improve access to obesity treatment as growing numbers of people in Portugal continue to struggle with excess weight and obesity.

According to the company, the reduction applies to the 1.7mg and 2.4mg versions of the medication.

The 1.7mg dose, currently priced at €214.26, will fall to €173.98, while the 2.4mg option will decrease from €244.80 to €198.53.

Novo Nordisk said obesity remains a major public health challenge in Portugal, estimating that around two in three people in the country are currently living with excess weight or obesity.

The company also noted that many patients still do not have access to medical treatment options for weight management.

Wegovy belongs to the same family of medications as Ozempic, another Novo Nordisk drug originally developed for diabetes treatment that later became internationally known for its weight-loss effects.

Competing medications such as Mounjaro have also contributed to growing global demand for injectable obesity treatments in recent years.

The increasing popularity of these drugs has also fuelled wider public discussion around their side effects, including terms such as “Ozempic Face” and “Ozempic Butt”, phrases used online to describe facial volume loss and body composition changes some patients report after rapid weight reduction.

Novo Nordisk said obesity should be treated as a chronic disease and pointed out that Portugal currently does not provide public funding for medicines approved specifically for weight-loss treatment.

The company believes the lower prices could help improve long-term access, continuity of treatment and adherence among patients using the medication.