Use of weight-loss medication in Australia could rise by up to 40 per cent after the approval of a daily pill containing the same appetite-suppressing ingredient used in Ozempic and Wegovy.
The tablet has been approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration and is expected to become available in pharmacies before the end of the year. Unlike the existing treatment, it is taken daily on an empty stomach rather than administered through a weekly injection.
General practitioner Dr Ginni Mansberg said the new option could appeal to people who were reluctant to use injections.
“For some people who hate the idea of an injection, this will just be a game changer,” she said.
However, Dr Mansberg warned that the tablet would not remove the side effects associated with the injectable version.
“Efficacy is roughly similar. Side effects, sadly similar. It would be lovely if we got rid of those,” she said.
Pharmacists predict rise in weight-loss drug use
More than 500,000 Australians are believed to be using weight-loss injections each month. Among them is Linzi Ibrahim, who has lost 15kg in 12 months while taking Wegovy.
“It’s so much easier to play with the kids. My blood pressure’s lower. My asthma’s improved,” she said.
Pharmacists have predicted that the daily pill could increase overall use of weight-loss medication by as much as 40 per cent, while welcoming the additional choice for patients.
Its price in Australia has not yet been confirmed. In the United States, the tablet costs between US$150 and US$300 a month, making it slightly cheaper than the injectable treatment.
There have been calls for the medication to be added to Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, particularly for people considered to be at greatest risk.
Doctors have stressed that the treatment is intended for people living with serious obesity, diabetes and heart problems, rather than those seeking to become thinner without a medical need.
