This is an arrival that should not go unnoticed. The Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk, has just launched, this Tuesday, October 8, the marketing in France of its successful treatment against obesity, Wegovy. Pharmacies in France will be able to deliver this medication to patients with a prescription from today. The laboratory ensures that it has planned sufficient stocks to meet demand. The only major downside is that patients will have to pay for the product in full out of their own pocket, as it is not currently reimbursed by Health Insurance.
Authorized in the European Union since January 2022, this weight loss drug, which shows particularly promising clinical results (around 15% weight loss on average) was until now only available to a handful of patients. in France. Since July 2022, around 8,000 patients suffering from severe obesity have been able to benefit from it free of charge as part of early access, a derogation system intended to accelerate the availability on national soil of treatments deemed innovative.
This is no longer the case. However, this medicinal treatment, which comes in the form of pre-filled injector pens, is not accessible to anyone. Its use is reserved for patients suffering from severe obesity, that is to say with a body mass index greater than 35 kg/m2, and aged under 65, according to the framework defined by the health authorities. Its prescription is also only indicated as second intention, when nutritional support does not give satisfactory results. Finally, the treatment must be followed in addition to a low-calorie diet and an increase in physical activity.
Read the decryption | Article reserved for our subscribers New anti-obesity drugs, public and financial success despite the caution of health professionals
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There is also no question of opening the door to misuse, these diversions of the product for purely aesthetic purposes, popularized by influencers on social networks and Hollywood stars wishing to lose a few extra pounds. In order to avoid this situation, the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products announced, this Tuesday, October 8, to restrict the prescription conditions of all GLP-1 analogs, the family of drugs of which Wegovy is part. Only doctors specializing in endocrinology-diabetology-nutrition will be authorized to initially prescribe Wegovy, indicates the drug watchdog.
More than 8 million people suffering from obesity
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