the essentials A new anti-obesity drug is marketed in France. Wegovy will be prescribed in a restricted setting but will not be reimbursed. How does he act? Is it effective? Does it have any side effects?
Wegovy. This is the name of this new drug which arrives in pharmacies this Tuesday, October 8. Intended for overweight patients, and marketed by the Danish laboratory Novo Nordisk, it has obtained supervised marketing authorization from the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM).
How does Wegovy work?
This launch comes against a backdrop of exploding demand for a new generation of effective treatments for weight loss: GLP-1 analogues (aGLP-1), which includes Wegovy. This class of drugs mimics an intestinal hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and provides a feeling of fullness. The active substance in Wegovy, semaglutide, is the same as that of the antidiabetic drug Ozempic, but in obesity it is used in higher dosages.
Who is Wegovy for?
Wegovy may be prescribed to patients who have an initial body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 35 kg/m2 and aged under 65, recommends the National Medicines Safety Agency. A doctor may give it to a patient over 12 years old.
How is it administered?
The medication consists of a weekly injection with gradual dosing.
Who can prescribe it?
The first treatment prescription must be provided by specialists in endocrinology-diabetology-nutrition. Renewals can be carried out by general practitioners.
Why is the prescription regulated?
This medication should only be used as a second line, in the event of failure of nutritional support and in combination with a low-calorie diet and physical activity.
Is Wegovy effective?
Up to 10,000 obese patients had early access to Wegovy in France, according to the manufacturer, as part of early access which allows them to benefit from innovative treatments more than a year before their official marketing. The results arouse enthusiasm since the weight loss is, according to the High Authority of Health, around 17%.
Are there any side effects?
The treatment is accompanied by undesirable effects such as nausea, diarrhea or even vomiting.
Why is the medication not reimbursed?
The price is set freely. Wegovy is not covered by Health Insurance and it is not evaluated for reimbursement. The price of the treatment is estimated “between 9 and 12 euros per day”, indicates the French subsidiary of the Novo Nordisk laboratory.
