The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approved Novo Nordisk A/S' Ozempic to treat adults with type 2 diabetes.

The approval was based on results from the company's clinical trial program called Sustain, which enrolled more than 8,000 patients in five studies. Data showed that Ozempic reduced blood sugar levels better than comparator treatments and led to greater reductions in mean body weight compared to placebo.

Denmark-based Novo Nordisk plans to launch the drug in Japan within the coming months.

Ozempic is already approved in the U.S., Canada and the EU.