The diabetes drug was the best-selling medicine last year. Photo: Martti Kainulainen / Lehtikuva
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A medication used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes was the top-selling drug in Finland last year, according to new figures released by Kela. The active ingredient, semaglutide, saw its sales increase by nearly 30 percent in 2024.
Semaglutide is marketed under several brand names, including Ozempic. It has grown in popularity for both diabetes treatment and weight management.
“The use of semaglutide has increased significantly in recent years, particularly for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity,” said Kati Sarnola, senior researcher at Kela, in a statement.
The drug surpassed nicotine replacement therapies, which previously held the top position in Finland’s pharmaceutical rankings. Sales of medicinal nicotine products fell by 10 percent. However, the figures do not include the increasingly popular non-medicinal nicotine pouches, which are not classified as pharmaceutical products.
Other categories also showed notable growth. Sales of cancer medications rose by 6 percent, while ADHD medication sales increased by 17 percent.
Among over-the-counter products, the top-sellers included acetylsalicylic acid for blood clot prevention, ibuprofen for pain relief, and macrogol for treating constipation.
Total pharmaceutical sales in Finland reached €4 billion in 2024, according to the national drug statistics.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
