On 1st August 2024, Novo Nordisk announced the much anticipated release of Wegovy in Australia. The weight loss medication has shown promising results worldwide which could mean effective results for Australians struggling with obesity and being overweight.
Is Wegovy available in Australia?
Wegovy is now available to be prescribed by a doctor. It had been awaiting release since it gained registration in 2022. It was released overseas in the United States, UK and Europe showing significant results in clinical trials.
Since its registration, Australia has been waiting for the medication, however the release was delayed. Upon release to other countries, the demand of the medication surpassed the supply thus the release of Wegovy in Australia was intentionally delayed until today, with the speculated reason being to secure supply lines.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a once weekly injection design for adults who are dealing with chronic weight management issues. The active ingredient is semaglutide which is a GLP-1 Receptor agonist. It is a prescription medicine designed to assist individuals in losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.
Similar to all other weight management medications, Wegovy is most effective when used in combination with a weight management plan which often includes a balanced diet, physical activity and a supportive team of professionals.
Is Wegovy effective for weight loss?
Wegovy manufacturer conducted a long 68 week trial in which they found that adults using Wegovy lost a significant amount of body weight. Individuals lost 5%-15% of the body weight in the 60-70 weeks of trial. Most individuals started to see very noticeable changes in weight within the first 20 weeks of taking the medication. These research numbers are for individuals who combined Wegovy with a reduced calorie intake and increased their physical activity.
*Disclaimer: It’s important to understand that results can vary for individuals based on their health situations.
How much weight can I lose using Wegovy?
In the study, patients were able to achieve 10%, 15% or more of body weight reduction by week 68.
- 83% of trial patients lost 5% or more weight
- 66% of trial patients lost 10% or more weight
- 48% of trial patients lost 15% or more weight
- 30% of trial patients lost 20% or more weight (1 in 3 people)
How does Wegovy help with losing body weight?
Wegovy works in three main ways to help people lose weight:
- Semaglutide targets the center of the brain that is responsible for appetite and can help you feel fuller for longer and curb food cravings. This can result in weight loss.
- Wegovy causes delayed gastric emptying which means after a meal, the stomach empties at a much slower rate than usual. Making one feel satisfied for longer periods of time. This slow emptying also results in the common side effects of Wegovy.
- Wegovy also helps manage blood sugar levels through the lowering of glucose amounts which is released by the pancreas after eating. With a more regulated blood sugar, weight loss can be further promoted.
Wegovy for weight management
Obesity has the potential to trigger serious health complications which makes it a chronic global health concern. There have been effective solutions over time which have helped manage weight, however Wegovy has shown promising results in the study, which have its release as a much awaited one.
What is the Wegovy cost in Australia?
The active ingredient in Wegovy is the same as that of Ozempic. The Pharmaceutical benefits scheme has subsidised Ozempic for diabetics needing additional blood sugar control, however Wegovy is not yet on the PBS.
The exact cost of Wegovy in Australia will vary based on the dose pen, but it is likely to align with the pricing of other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines which are not on the PBS.
How to get Wegovy in Australia?
Wegovy is a prescription only medicine in Australia. It can be prescribed by any registered doctor to those who fit the prescribing criteria. You can be assessed by an Australian doctor in person or online by completing an online health assessment followed by a video or phone consultation.
Consult a doctor
Resources
