Abbott and Novo announced an expanded strategic collaboration to increase access to originator semaglutide for people living with type 2 diabetes across Asia Pacific. Under the agreement, Abbott will commercialise Plosbrio® (semaglutide), developed and manufactured by Novo, across Singapore and other Asia Pacific countries.

Plosbrio® is a second brand of Ozempic®, which the companies describe as one of the world's most prescribed GLP-1 RA (receptor agonist) molecules. The announcement was made in Singapore.

A regional approach to access

The companies framed the agreement as a new regional approach to broadening access to semaglutide in Asia Pacific. It combines Novo's leadership in diabetes care medicines and GLP-1 therapies with Abbott's healthcare and commercial footprint across the region, as well as Abbott's leadership across the diabetes care continuum, including medicines, diagnostics, continuous glucose monitoring and diabetes-specific nutrition.

Plosbrio® is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise for adults with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide, the molecule in Plosbrio®, has demonstrated significant HbA1c reduction, weight-loss benefits, and proven reduced risk of cardiovascular and kidney events in people with type 2 diabetes, according to the companies.

Semaglutide has a well-established safety profile supported by clinical development programmes and evidence for improving health outcomes across multiple disease states, including type 2 diabetes, the announcement states. It has been on the market globally for close to a decade and has more than 58 million patient-years of exposure across all semaglutide products.

What the executives said

Karim Elmashad, divisional vice president for Abbott's medicines business in Asia Pacific, said type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health challenges across the region, yet access to advanced therapies remains uneven across many parts of it.

"This collaboration reflects Abbott's longstanding commitment to expand access to key innovations, including GLP-1 therapies for diabetes, across Asia Pacific,“ he said. ”By combining Novo's leadership in diabetes care medicines and GLP-1 therapies with Abbott's extensive healthcare expertise and regional presence, we can help more people benefit from an important treatment and support a more comprehensive approach to diabetes care."

Jay Thyagarajan, senior vice president for Asia Pacific at Novo, described semaglutide as one of the most significant advances in chronic disease care in recent history, taken by more than 32 million people worldwide to control their diabetes, manage their weight and achieve lasting health.

"By joining forces with Abbott in a first-of-its-kind, multi-country collaboration across Asia Pacific, we aim to expand access to this breakthrough treatment for millions more people across our region," he said.

Building on past collaboration

The agreement builds on a growing collaboration between the two companies. That includes Abbott's commercialisation of Extensior®, another second brand of semaglutide Ozempic® for adults with type 2 diabetes in India.

The companies have partnered since 2019 to integrate Abbott's FreeStyle Libre® continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system with Novo's connected insulin pens, helping patients and clinicians better manage diabetes through integrated glucose and insulin data.

Abbott's diabetes care portfolio spans medicines and diagnostics to continuous glucose monitoring and diabetes-specific nutrition. Real-world evidence studies suggest that the use of FreeStyle Libre® technology alongside GLP-1 therapy can further improve HbA1c outcomes and support treatment adherence, the announcement states, highlighting the value of a more integrated approach to diabetes management.

The companies noted that Plosbrio® and FreeStyle Libre® are separate products and are not sold or offered together; decisions on their use remain at the discretion of healthcare professionals.

The regional diabetes burden

Across Asia Pacific, type 2 diabetes is increasingly characterised by earlier onset, faster disease progression, and a higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications, according to the announcement. In the Southeast Asian region, more than 107 million adults live with diabetes and that figure is projected to increase to 185 million by 2050.

As health systems in the region work to address the growing burden of chronic disease, expanding access to evidence-based therapies and integrated care approaches will play an important role in improving long-term outcomes for people living with diabetes, the companies said.

Availability of Plosbrio® may vary by market and is subject to applicable regulatory approvals, registration requirements and local launch planning.

About Plosbrio®

Plosbrio® (semaglutide injection) is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes. It is also indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and kidney events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart or kidney disease.

  • It will be available in the FlexTouch® pen, described as an easy-to-use once-weekly pen device that provides precise dosing in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg dose strengths.
  • Semaglutide, the active ingredient, is 94% homologous to the naturally-occurring GLP-1 in the human body.
  • In 2025, semaglutide was added to the WHO's essential medicines list.

Company profiles

Novo describes itself as a global healthcare company that believes lasting health starts now. It says that for over a century it has combined scientific expertise with an understanding of people's lives, developing treatments and support that help millions of people make progress they can see, feel and sustain. The company says over 67,000 employees around the world advance its purpose to drive change for lasting health, and that through partnerships, programmes and investments it works to prevent disease, expand access to treatments and reduce its environmental impact.

Abbott describes itself as a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Its portfolio spans diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional and branded generic medicines. The company says its 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Questions addressed by the companies

On whether Plosbrio® is the same medicine as Ozempic®, the companies said Plosbrio® contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, and is developed and manufactured by Novo to the same quality standards. They described it as a second brand for the same medicine, made available through the partnership so more people across Asia Pacific can access it.

On the naming, Novo introduced Plosbrio® as a second brand specifically for the countries in the agreement, an approach the companies say lets Abbott promote and distribute the medicine across more countries in Asia Pacific, reaching people who may not have had access to it before.

On availability, the companies said Plosbrio® will be available across Singapore and other Asia Pacific countries, with more details on availability in each market to be shared as the launch progresses.

On who should use it, the companies said Plosbrio® is a prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes, used together with diet and exercise to help control blood sugar levels and to reduce the risk of heart and kidney problems. They stated it is not a weight-loss medication and should only be used as prescribed by a doctor.