In France, health authorities are paving the way for reimbursement of Wegovy in cases of severe obesity

Health authorities have opened the way for reimbursement in France of the anti-obesity drug Wegovy only for patients suffering from severe obesity, maintaining a favorable opinion on Wednesday after taking into account new data which reduces cardiovascular risks.

After a first decision in December 2022, the High Authority for Health (HAS) confirms its positive opinion on reimbursement “only in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI)? 35 kg/m²»which corresponds to so-called severe obesity, in association with a low-calorie diet and an increase in physical activity. In its first assessment, the health authority issued a positive opinion for adults aged under 65, conditional on the provision of new data which this year demonstrated a cardiovascular benefit in obese patients. In its second assessment, the HAS lifts the restriction on age less than or equal to 65 years that it had set in its first decision.

The target population for Wegovy (semaglutide) is estimated between 1 and 2.1 million patients, according to HAS. “With this new notice, our objective is to obtain a reimbursement from Wegovy as quickly as possible” in the cases defined by the HAS, reacted the Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk in a press release. This medication, which consists of a weekly injection with progressive dosage, was authorized by the European Medicines Agency in early 2022 for the management of obesity in adults and since 2023 for adolescents over 12 years old.

The results arouse enthusiasm since the weight loss is, according to the HAS, around 17%, but its use is accompanied by undesirable effects such as nausea, diarrhea or even vomiting.