Arabic version: هيئة السلع العلاجية توافق على قرص ويغوفي يومي للاستخدام في أستراليا

According to ABC News, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has cleared a daily Wegovy tablet made by Novo Nordisk for use in Australia. The decision, signed off on Tuesday, marks the first approval of a GLP-1 medicine in oral form in the country.

Until now, Australians with prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs have only been able to use weekly injections. The tablet is approved for people with obesity and for people who need to reduce cardiovascular risk, but patients will require a doctor’s prescription.

The TGA has approved Wegovy tablets in four strengths: 1.5 milligrams, 4 milligrams, 9 milligrams and 25 milligrams. A 25mg tablet containing semaglutide has the same effect as a 2.4mg injection because the body absorbs active ingredients less efficiently when medicine is taken orally.

The product cannot yet be released. The TGA still needs to review its packaging and production processes to confirm they meet required quality standards. A price guide for Australia has not been set. In the United States, the tablet generally costs less than the injection, despite containing more semaglutide per dose.

Under current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme rules, weight-loss medicines are subsidised only for people with type 2 diabetes. Wegovy’s approval follows its availability in the United States and Europe. Rival Eli Lilly is awaiting a TGA decision on Orforglipro, its oral weight-loss drug.