Diabetes Australia has welcomed affirmation that the availability of Ozempic (semaglutide) in Australia has stabilised, with prescribing and provide restrictions now lifted.
Pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk has suggested the Therapeutic Items Administration (TGA) that nationwide shares have improved to the purpose the place docs can now prescribe Ozempic for brand new sufferers, and remedy can proceed as regular for present sufferers. This follows a protracted international scarcity that started in 2022 attributable to an surprising enhance in demand.
Ozempic is subsidised beneath the Pharmaceutical Advantages Scheme (PBS) for the remedy of kind 2 diabetes when particular medical standards are met. It’s not subsidised for weight reduction or different off-label makes use of. A separate model, Wegovy, additionally accommodates semaglutide however is accredited just for power weight administration and cardiovascular threat discount in folks with out diabetes.
The TGA has additionally suggested {that a} new 3 mL pen is changing the earlier 1.5 mL model of the Ozempic 0.25 mg/0.5 mg pre-filled pen. Additional info is obtainable by means of the TGA and Novo Nordisk.
Whereas provide is enhancing, it could take time for some native pharmacies to restock. If Ozempic is unavailable, pharmacists are inspired to contact their wholesalers or Novo Nordisk for supply updates. Sufferers also can communicate with their pharmacist about when inventory will arrive.
Diabetes Australia will proceed to observe the availability of semaglutide medicines and help Australians residing with kind 2 diabetes to entry their remedy. Sufferers are inspired to talk with their physician or pharmacist if they’ve questions on their treatment.
