Oral Weight-Loss Pill May Soon Reach New Zealand
Published
A pill form of the weight-loss medication Wegovy has recently been released in Australia, and it could soon be available in New Zealand. Wegovy belongs to a group of medicines called GLP-1 drugs, which were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes and are now also used to help people lose weight.
The New Zealand medicines regulator, Medsafe, is currently considering the first application for this oral version of the drug. Medsafe is responsible for checking that medicines are safe and effective before they can be sold in New Zealand. At this stage, no decision has been announced, so the pill is not yet approved for use here.
Until now, Wegovy and similar medicines have mostly been given as weekly injections. Many people prefer tablets because they are easier to take and do not require needles. If Medsafe approves the pill, it could give New Zealanders who are living with obesity another treatment option. However, doctors usually recommend that weight-loss medicines are used alongside changes to diet and exercise.
Readers who want to know more about the application or when a decision might be made should check Medsafe's website or speak with their doctor. Until the pill is approved, it cannot be prescribed or bought in New Zealand.
Sources: 1News
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