Wegovy Set to Launch in PH: A New Hope for Weight Loss This Year
WEIGHT LOSS – A new FDA-approved treatment for weight loss is set to arrive in the Philippines later this year.
A new weight loss treatment is expected to hit the Philippine market soon, offering an alternative to the widely used Ozempic. Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based pharmaceutical company, announced that its approved anti-obesity drug Wegovy will be available in the country between the third and fourth quarter of the year.
Wegovy, which is specifically formulated and approved for weight management, aims to address the increasing demand for effective weight loss solutions among individuals struggling with obesity. Its arrival is also anticipated to ease the current shortage of Ozempic, another Novo Nordisk medication originally intended for type 2 diabetes but often used off-label for weight loss.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wegovy as early as February 2024. However, its market release was delayed due to global supply considerations. According to Dr. Cyrus Pasamba, medical manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines, the company has been waiting for the green light from its headquarters to ensure adequate stock allocation for the Philippine market.
“The reason for the waiting time is that we need a go-signal from our headquarters that there are enough stocks of Wegovy allotted for the Philippines … for the estimated number of patients that will need it,” Dr. Pasamba explained in an interview.
Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, similar to Ozempic, but is formulated at a higher dose specifically for chronic weight management. Its approval and pending release come at a time when obesity rates are rising in the country and the demand for weight loss treatments is growing.
Health experts have warned against the unsupervised use of Ozempic for weight loss, as it was not designed for that purpose. With Wegovy, patients now have an option that is medically approved for managing weight under professional guidance.
As anticipation builds, Novo Nordisk is working closely with local healthcare providers to prepare for the drug’s availability and ensure it is prescribed responsibly to those who need it most.
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