A weight loss pill that’s already generating huge interest overseas could soon be heading to Australia, with Danish company Novo Nordisk gearing up for regulatory approval here and raising hopes of a needle-free alternative
Fresh off the conveyor belt, the pill version of the blockbuster weight loss injection Wegovy is about to be sent to pharmacies across the United Kingdom
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Weight loss pill could arrive by Christmas
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Now representatives are preparing for the Australian rollout
“We are working with the TGA through the TGA approval process. We are trying our best to make it available once it’s approved,” Novo Nordisk senior director Dr Ana Svensson said
The TGA says it’s still assessing the medicine’s quality, safety and efficacy before making a decision. But 7NEWS can reveal that decision could be made by Christmas
“Different people have different needs, different preferences. So this would be another option for those that may not want injections,” Svensson said
Like the injection, this once-a-day pill contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 peptide that helps suppress appetite
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Right now, the TGA says unapproved peptides bought online are one of its biggest safety concerns, making an approved alternative even more important
“That will be the first and the only oral GLP-1 peptide for chronic weight management,” Svensson said
With around two in three Australian adults and one in four school-age kids now overweight or obese, doctors say more treatment options are desperately needed
“If we intervene early, we can actually change the trajectory and hopefully prevent many of the health conditions that are known to be associated with excess weight,” <a href="https://healthylife7.com/next-generation-of-obesity-drugs/” title=”Next Generation Of Obesity Drugs”>obesity specialist Dr Georgia Rigas said
