Wegovy tablets. Photo: Getty
Ireland has been chosen as the manufacturing site to make the weight loss drug Wegovy in tablet form.
It is currently is only available in this country to use as an injection but its maker, Novo Nordisk, has now developed a pill version.
The drug manufacturer will expand its facility in Athlone to produce the Wegovy tablet.
The tablet was launched in the United States in January and around 240,000 people are taking it already, according to Bloomberg.
The hope is that the tablet version will be more attractive to people who do not like having to use the injectable method.
The tablets would be made in Ireland for markets outside the United States.
Wegovy became available in injectable form in Ireland about a year ago.
Wegovy tablets. Photo: Getty
Today’s News in 90 – Thursday February 12
The lowest dose of 0.25g costs around around €200 for a month’s supply of the medicine, which is injected weekly.
Wegovy is a sister drug of Ozempic, which has been licensed in Ireland for some time to treat type 2 diabetes.
The tablet form of Wegovy is expected to be cheaper.
It is a one-a-day version semaglutide and it has the same active ingredient as injectable Wegovy.
Studies indicate the pill can lead to substantial weight loss, with some users losing over 20pc their body weight, a similar result to the weekly injection.
Unlike the injection, the pill does not require refrigeration.
Wegovy and another treatment Mounjaro, made by Eli Lilly, are currently undergoing formal pricing and reimbursement assessments by the HSE.
Ozempic is available for reimbursement for the treatment of diabetes only and not obesity.
Saxenda injection in pre-filled pen is the only product currently approved under Community Drug Schemes (GMS/Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS)) for weight management with a managed access system in place.