ASDA pharmacy has had more than 7,000 orders for the new Wegovy pill – just hours after it was launched. Faye Breckons, director for healthcare at the supermarket giant, said they have been inundated with more than 13,000 enquires about the weight-loss tablet in two weeks
The semaglutide tablets, produced by Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk, became the first GLP-1 pill for <a href="https://healthylife7.com/suits-alum-rick-hoffman-shares-intense-weight-loss-secrets-behind-slimdown/" title="‘Suits’ alum Rick Hoffman shares ‘intense’ weight loss secrets behind slimdown”>weight loss to be approved by the UK’s medicines regulator last month
From Monday 6 July, the initial 1.5mg and 4mg doses will be available to eligible patients through weight management programmes in select pharmacies
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She said some of the patients who have ordered the prescription pills have made the jump from injectable GLP1s, but most are trying it for the first time this week
ASDA Online Doctor sells 1.5mg packs of the tablets for £98.97 and 4mg packs for £118.97
Faye said: “The majority of these patients are new to weight loss medications – maybe they weren’t keen on needles. But we also offer support for patients making the switch from injections
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“Weight loss medications have made a massive difference to our patients – with fantastic outcomes for people with diabetes or high blood pressure. We look to the US in terms of understanding market trends. There is significant demand for the pill format. We tend to follow those trends, so I imagine pill formats will become a bigger part of the market in six months to a year.”
Faye said the team have spotted a trend in people becoming more willing to make lifestyle changes alongside using GLP1 medications
She said this has translated into the shopping habits of their customers – with an increase in sales of low alcohol and high-protein food and drinks, and more fresh ingredients for home cooking
She said: “Changes to lifestyles can only be a good thing, and with the breadth of medications increasing, it increases the potential positive outcomes.”
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Faye said ASDA had anticipated the demand to be as high as it has been – because it has mirrored what has been seen in the US already. But she reckons by making pill forms of GLP1 medications available in the UK through supermarkets, it will draw in more customers than ever
She said: “Some people feel a bit nervous about going online, trying to get information about medications. If they do want to talk about medications, our pharmacists are trained to offer support in any of our pharmacies, and you can book a face-to-face appointment. It offers reassurance to people of all generations so they can understand the medications.”
Faye added: “I think this will be here to stay for the next five to 10 years. But there will always be developments in the field, so we can’t be sure what’s round the corner.”
