Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has registered four strengths of Wegovy tablets, making the once-daily semaglutide pill the country’s first oral GLP-1 medicine approved specifically for chronic weight management, 1News reported.
The newly approved tablets contain semaglutide, which mimics the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone to regulate blood sugar, suppress appetite, and slow stomach emptying. The Therapeutic Goods Administration registered strengths of 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg for adult patients.
Who is eligible to receive the Wegovy pill in Australia?
Prescriptions are intended for adults living with obesity who have a body mass index of 30 or higher. The medication is also approved for overweight adults with a body mass index between 27 and 30 who present with at least one weight-related condition, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure. The medicine is not cleared as a quick fix for minor weight loss and must be paired with lifestyle changes.
How do the daily tablets differ from weekly injections?
Patients must take the oral tablet once daily on an empty stomach after fasting for at least eight hours, swallowing it with a small amount of water. Users must then wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything other than water, or taking other oral medications. In contrast, the weekly Wegovy injection can be administered at any time of day with or without food. Clinical trials show similar weight loss outcomes between the two formats, with the tablet achieving a 14% body weight reduction over roughly 64 to 68 weeks, compared with 15% for the injection. Unlike the injectable pen, the pill does not require refrigeration.
What are the known side effects and medical risks?
Common gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation.
When will the pills arrive in pharmacies and what will they cost?
Novo Nordisk itself has said it is preparing a launch in the later part of 2026, while media reports suggest some experts expect a market debut in 2027 instead. The medication is not currently subsidized through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for weight management, meaning patients must pay out of pocket. While official prices for the Australian market have not yet been released, the weekly injection typically costs between $250 and $450 a month, and the out-of-pocket expenses for the daily pill are expected to be comparable.
Common patient questions about Wegovy dosage, storage, and stopping treatment
Can patients double their dose to speed up weight loss?
No. Doubling the dose does not accelerate results and can cause severe harm by worsening gastrointestinal side effects and other medical risks.
Do patients need to refrigerate the Wegovy tablets?
Unlike the weekly semaglutide injection pens, the oral tablets do not require refrigeration for storage.
Wegovy, a weight loss medication, is now available in daily pill form in Australia after receiving TGA approval, offering an alternative to weekly injections. pic.twitter.com/53v7coepEU
What happens if a patient stops taking the medication?
Research indicates that patients who stop taking Wegovy without maintaining lifestyle modifications typically regain about two-thirds of their lost weight within a year.
More on Wegovy
The TGA has approved an oral version of Wegovy, giving Australians a daily tablet alternative to the popular weekly weight-loss injection. Here’s what you need to know. 💊 DETAILS: https://t.co/wrORP0h3g6 pic.twitter.com/zb0rF5v9HG
Australia's TGA approved Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy on Nov 3 in four strengths: 1.5, 4, 9 and 25 mg, with indications matching the injectable. Per 7NEWS, a once-daily pill is expected before Christmas; Novo has not confirmed timing or price. #Health
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