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 medical doctors can now prescribe Ozempic for brand spanking new sufferers, and therapy can proceed as regular for current sufferers. This follows a chronic world scarcity that started in 2022 on account of an surprising enhance in demand.
Ozempic is subsidised beneath the Pharmaceutical Advantages Scheme (PBS) for the therapy of kind 2 diabetes when particular medical standards are met. It isn’t subsidised for weight reduction or different off-label makes use of. A separate model, Wegovy, additionally comprises semaglutide however is permitted just for power weight administration and cardiovascular danger discount in individuals 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 on the market by the TGA and Novo Nordisk.
Whereas provide is bettering, it might 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 may also converse with their pharmacist about when inventory will arrive.
Diabetes Australia will proceed to watch the availability of semaglutide medicines and assist Australians residing with kind 2 diabetes to entry their therapy. Sufferers are inspired to talk with their physician or pharmacist if they’ve questions on their treatment.
