Scientist behind Ozempic started her career developing laundry detergent

Wegovy and Ozempic, the blockbuster drugs transforming the treatment of diabetes and obesity, weren’t a foregone conclusion. Their story begins with a Danish company’s commitment to research and the passion of two scientists who saw potential where others saw just a good idea.

Novo Nordisk, a company previously known for its work in blood sugar regulation, might have missed out on a $600 billion opportunity had it not been for the insistence of then-head of research, Mads Krogsgaard. In the early 1990s, many at Novo Nordisk were skeptical of developing drugs specifically for weight loss. But Krogsgaard saw the growing obesity epidemic as a public health crisis that called for a solution.

“I started trying to convince them that it’s not getting on the bike,” Krogsgaard said. “If you’re genetically predisposed, living in the environment we are in today, you are at very high risk. And something should be done about that.”

Lotte Knudsen, another key figure in the story, joined Novo Nordisk with a background not in medicine but in laundry detergent. Her early work involved research on enzymes to prevent colors bleeding during washing. But she wasn’t afraid to explore new territories.

“It’s the same story, right, of just wanting to make a product that’s useful,” Knudsen said.

When she encountered research on GLP-1, a naturally occurring gut hormone that lowered blood sugar and suppressed appetite, she saw the potential to revolutionize treatment for both diabetes and obesity.

“She was the first one to march into my office, with red hair, and very fired up, showing me a publication that was not even published yet,” Krogsgaard recalled. “She was talking very agitatedly about this. And I was getting excited.”

For the next 20 years, Novo Nordisk dedicated itself to developing this GLP-1 molecule, a journey that eventually led to the creation of Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes in 2017 and Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.

The duo’s work has been immensely successful. Wegovy and Ozempic have skyrocketed in popularity, propelling Novo Nordisk to become Europe’s largest company, surpassing titans like Exxon Mobil and Procter & Gamble.

Despite the company’s astronomical success, Knudsen remains humble. “I still consider myself a ‘nerdy little scientist who kind of found home here in this company for 35 years,” she stated.

This story is a testament to the powerful impact of scientific curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking.

### **Want to learn more about the science behind Ozempic and Wegovy? Read the full 60 Minutes interview!**