Millions of Australians living with obesity could soon gain cheaper access to a blockbuster weight‑loss drug, with the federal government preparing to act on expert advice to subsidise the Ozempic‑like medication Wegovy.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has recommended that Wegovy be listed on the PBS for adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
Patients must have experienced a serious cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, and meet strict weight thresholds to be eligible for the PBS subsidy.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the government would begin price negotiations with the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.
‘Right now, more than 400,000 Australians are paying private prices just to get this weight‑loss benefit – as much as $4,000 or $5,000 a year,’ Butler said.
‘It’s beyond the means of many Australians who would genuinely benefit. It’s an equity issue as much as a health issue.’
Wegovy, a GLP‑1 medication similar to Ozempic, suppresses appetite and can lead to significant weight loss. Data from 2022 showed that 13 per cent of Australian adults fall into the ‘severe obesity’ category, with a BMI of 35 or more.
Although there’s no confirmed timeline for Wegovy’s PBS listing, once it is added, eligible patients will see a significant reduction in cost.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler (pictured) will soon begin price negotiations with Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk
The price of weight loss jab Wegovy could soon be dramatically reduced
Under changes introduced on January 1, the maximum price for PBS-listed medicines has dropped to $25 per prescription, and $7.70 for concession card holders.
Perth Weight Clinic lead clinician Mark Mellor said the drug is particularly beneficial because it not only supports weight loss, but can also help prevent future cardiovascular issues and save lives.
‘To help prevent patients from having another cardiovascular event or dying from cardiovascular disease,’ Dr Mellor told the ABC.
‘It makes sense that we need to treat these people if they want that treatment.’
Currently, Ozempic is PBS-listed only for its original therapeutic use: type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication, similar to Ozempic, that helps suppress appetite and supports weight loss.
Based on 2022 data, 13 per cent of Australian adults have ‘severe obesity,’ defined as a BMI of 35 or greater.
Global demand for GLP‑1 medications has surged, prompting the World Health Organisation in December to urge governments to improve affordability and access.
Wegovy could also be approved in pill form after being launched in the US earlier this month
Wegovy could also be approved in pill form after its recent launch in the US.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners expert Dr Michael Tam said making the drugs affordable for those who need them most would deliver significant equity benefits.
‘There are a lot of people who believe they’d benefit from these medicines, but for many, their social and financial circumstances make that impossible,’ he said.
‘If these medicines land on the PBS, that fundamentally changes access.’
However, Dr Tam warned that Australia cannot rely on medication alone to tackle soaring obesity rates.
‘For a person living with obesity, and there are many people who might benefit from these medicines, the reality is that their social situation may make access unrealistic.
‘If these medicines come onto the PBS, it will clearly improve access, and the potential benefits from an equity perspective could be significant.
‘But if we fund these medicines, it may mean less funding or slower growth for preventive health initiatives, such as addressing issues in the built environment,’ Dr Tam said.
Perth Weight Clinic lead clinician Mark Mellor (pictured) said the narrow eligibility criteria were no accident, describing them as necessary to prevent costs ‘blowing out’
‘It’s not a simple thing. We know these treatments are effective for individuals, but ideally, we want to reduce the burden of obesity from occurring in the first place.
‘It would be even better if we’re able to also support a healthy community so that less young people, less children, become obese adults.’