Pharmacy Today NZ
May 2025
Jonathon Chilton-Towle
The weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide), manufactured by the Danish company Novo
Nordisk, received approval of 20th March.
Novo Nordisk also manufactures Ozempic (a different brand name for a higher dose of
semaglutide), approved to treat type-2 diabetes in New Zealand.
Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa chair, John Baker has been involved in a clinical trial where
patients were given Wegovy and has seen patients on the drug lose large amounts of
weight, up to 40kg in some cases.
Semaglutide has two modes of action, Dr Baker says. It works on the hypothalmus in the
brain and suppresses appetite and delays gastric emptying in the stomach.
Just affecting appetite is not enough, he says. Patients also need to change their lifestyle, by
changing dietary habits and increasing activity levels. They also need nutritional support.
Wegovy usage can also cause muscle wasting from weight-loss, so to prevent that users
should increase their protein intake and do a lot of exercise.
Nausea can be a common side effect.
Dr Baker does not think it should be publicly funded because he believes although it is an
effective weight-loss tool, funding it would be incredibly expensive and there are more
important medicine funding priorities.
“It (obesity) is such a huge problem in our communities. The current Government just put
$1.5 billion into Pharmac to bring it to a reasonable parity and enable them to fund cancer
drugs and other probably more important drugs. If you opened the door to this, then you
would need a similar quantum of money, I would estimate.”
The drug is also indicated for adolescents aged 12 years and over with both obesity and
body weight above 60kg and indicated for patients at risk of major adverse cardiovascular
events.
Wegovy is delivered by a weekly injection to the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Common
side effects include gastrointestinal upsets, headaches, fatigue, and hair loss.
Serious side effects may include pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, hypoglycemia (especially in
patients treated for diabetes), kidney failure, increased heart rate and vision changes for
people with type-2 diabetes
