A weight loss drug that mimics Ozempic will be available from pharmacies from next week after a two-year delay.
The sister drug of Ozempic, Wegovy – which is made by the same company, was given the green light to be marketed as a chronic weight management drug two years ago.
Supply issues caused delays in its launch in Australia, but the drug will now be available from Monday.
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Experts say weight loss drugs have multiple health benefits.
“We’re seeing medications such as Wegovy having multiple benefits beyond weight loss,” Obesity Specialist Dr Georgia Rigas said.
“The main thing is we’re seeing improvements in blood pressure, heart disease, kidney function [and] fertility.”
Wegovy claims to work the same way as Ozempic, mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 to control hunger, however, the weekly dosage for Wegovy is higher.
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The recommended monthly dose on a private prescription will cost customers about $460.
The drug is meant to be used in combination with a good diet and exercise, experts say.
To be eligible for a prescription patients need to be overweight or obese, with at least one complication linked to the disease.
Attempts to have Wegovy subsidised through the PBS have been unsuccessful.
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