Wegovy, a new medication aimed at combating obesity, sharing the same active ingredient as the well-known Ozempic, is set to hit Portuguese pharmacies next week on April 7.
The injectable medication can be prescribed from this Tuesday, April 1, with Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk having already commenced commercialization and supplying wholesalers. It is expected to be available in pharmacies by April 7.
Unlike Ozempic, Wegovy will not receive reimbursement from the National Health Service (SNS) and will cost 244.80 euros per month. Both medications contain semaglutide as the active substance, but Wegovy is administered at a dose of 2.4 mg, which is lower than that of Ozempic.
It is important to note that Ozempic is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, for which it has been reimbursed since May 2021. It has also proven effective in weight loss for obese adults or those who are overweight with associated health issues by suppressing appetite, leading to high demand in several countries, including Portugal.
Novo Nordisk believes there will be no supply constraints and anticipates that the available quantity will meet the demand.
Currently, Wegovy is available in Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Efforts to obtain further information about the medication’s commercialization in Portugal from the National Authority of Medicines and Health Products – Infarmed, have so far been unresponsive.
