Will swallowing a pill make weight loss easier, cheaper or safer?
A new tablet version of Wegovy, a peptide used to help people lose weight, has been approved for the first time in Australia.
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a new tablet version of Wegovy, a weight loss medication, for the first time in the country. This tablet contains semaglutide, a drug that mimics the effects of the GLP-1 hormone, which regulates blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. The four strengths of the tablet include 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg.
Semaglutide acts on the brain and digestive system, helping individuals feel full faster, consume smaller meals, and reduce hunger. The medication is intended for adults with obesity or overweight conditions with weight-related health issues, and in some cases, for those with heart disease to lower the risk of severe heart problems. However, it is not a quick-fix solution and should be part of a broader health plan, including regular exercise and a healthy diet.
The Wegovy tablet must be taken daily with a 30-minute break before eating or drinking anything other than water. The special absorption aid in the tablet allows it to bypass stomach acid, ensuring effective absorption. While both the tablet and injection formats work similarly to promote weight loss, the tablet's effectiveness depends on patients remembering to take it daily and adhering to the prescribed wait time before consuming food or drink.
Common side effects for the tablet include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion, and constipation, affecting around 80 per cent of patients. More serious side effects, though less common, include kidney injury, pancreatitis, and gallbladder problems. Higher doses can exacerbate these side effects. It is crucial to remember that doubling the dose does not lead to faster results and may cause harm.
An oral tablet may appeal to individuals who dislike injections or have difficulty administering them, potentially reducing injection-related injuries. However, the TGA approval does not guarantee immediate availability; the TGA will complete a final review of packaging, production, and retail pricing before the tablets can be prescribed in Australia.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, aims to make the tablets available by the end of the year. As of now, Wegovy is not subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for weight management, and patients should expect to pay the full price, likely similar to the current monthly cost of the injection, which ranges from A$250 to A$450.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
