NO MORE NEEDLES? AUSTRALIA APPROVES ITS FIRST DAILY WEIGHT LOSS PILL
For many Australians who have balked at the idea of a weekly injection, a big change is on the way.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the country's first weight loss pill, a daily tablet version of the medicine Wegovy.
Made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, the tablet contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in the Wegovy injection.
According to the ABC, it is the first GLP-1 medicine approved by the TGA in oral form.
Until now, Australians prescribed these medicines could only use them as weekly injections.
What the weight loss pill approval covers
The TGA approved the tablet on Tuesday in four strengths, 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg.
As reported by Pharmacy Daily, it is approved for chronic weight management in people with obesity, alongside a reduced-energy diet and more physical activity.
It is also approved to help reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in people with a BMI of 27 or more who have established cardiovascular disease.
A TGA spokesperson told newsGP that these indications match those for the injectable version.
The ABC noted that the body absorbs oral semaglutide less efficiently, so one 25mg tablet acts in a similar way to a 2.4mg injection.
How it is taken
The tablet is only available with a doctor's prescription.
According to newsGP, which cited US labelling, the tablet is taken once a day on waking, on an empty stomach with a sip of water.
Patients then wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medicines by mouth.
Pharmacy Daily reported that patients usually start on the lowest dose and step up over time.
The TGA advises that Wegovy tablets or injections should not be used with other semaglutide products or any other GLP-1 medicine.
Side effects and safety
Like any medicine, the tablet can have side effects.
Pharmacy Daily listed common side effects including gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, fatigue, changes in skin sensation and hair loss, as well as low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright welcomed the approval as a step forward for patients.
"This is big news," he told newsGP.
However, he stressed that these medicines can have serious side effects and should be prescribed by a patient's regular GP.
He also noted that the high cost of the medication remains a problem.
When will it arrive and what will it cost?
The tablet is not yet available in Australia, and no price has been set.
Novo Nordisk has said it is working towards bringing the treatment to eligible Australians, with availability anticipated later this year.
The ABC reported that the TGA still needs to review the packaging and production processes before the product is released.
On the question of subsidies, newsGP reported that the injectable Wegovy is still not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, even though a listing was recommended almost a year ago.
Price negotiations are continuing, and it is not yet known whether the tablet will be subsidised.
A global trend reaches Australia
The pill has already proved popular overseas.
Novo Nordisk said the tablet launched in the US on 5 January this year and passed three million prescriptions in just over five months, according to newsGP.
Most of those new prescriptions were for people who had not used a GLP-1 medicine before.
More options may follow, with Pharmacy Daily reporting that Eli Lilly lodged an application with the TGA in January for its own weight-loss pill, orforglipron.
What it means for you
For people who find injections daunting, a daily tablet could make treatment feel more manageable.
But it is still a prescription medicine that is not suitable for everyone, and it works best as part of a wider plan that includes eating well and staying active.
If you are curious about whether it might be an option for you, the best first step is a conversation with your GP, who knows your health history.
They can talk you through the possible benefits, side effects and costs, and whether other approaches might suit you better.
