The Danish giant Novo Nordisk reached a key milestone with the launch in France of its revolutionary treatment against obesity, Wegovy, this Tuesday, October 8, 2024. This drug, which promises to lose up to 15% of body weight, is now available in pharmacies. However, it will not be reimbursed by Health Insurance and will be reserved for very specific patients.
A long-awaited drug
Demand for effective treatments for obesity is soaring, especially with the growing popularity of GLP-1 analogs, a class of drugs that mimic a gut hormone to stimulate insulin secretion and provide a feeling of fullness. Wegovy falls into this category and comes in the form of injector pens. According to the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), its prescription is strictly reserved for patients suffering from severe obesity, with a BMI greater than 35 kg/m², aged under 65, and only as second-line treatment, after the failure of nutritional support associated with a low-calorie diet and regular physical activity.
In a press release, Etienne Tichit, general manager of the France subsidiary of Novo Nordisk, expressed “the pride of having reopened the path of research in the complex and relapsing chronic disease that is obesity”. He hopes that this launch will allow many French patients to benefit from a complete care pathway.
Marketing under strict conditions
Although Wegovy has already been authorized by the European Medicines Agency since 2022, its introduction in France is taking place under a very regulated framework. The ANSM requires that the first prescriptions be carried out exclusively by specialists in endocrinology, diabetology or nutrition. General practitioners will be able to manage renewals, provided they follow the recommendations of the care pathway validated by the High Authority for Health (HAS). This includes in particular the requirement of a BMI greater than 35 kg/m² and an age less than 65 years.
This medication is therefore not accessible to everyone. Since July 2022, early and supervised access had already enabled nearly 8,000 patients to benefit from the treatment, but this period is now over. From now on, patients will have to pay in full out of pocket, because Wegovy will not be reimbursed by Medicare immediately. This point could be an obstacle for many patients, despite the hope it arouses.
Hope for expanded access
The launch of Wegovy in France is undeniably a step forward in the fight against obesity. However, without coverage by Health Insurance, its accessibility remains limited to those who can afford to assume the cost. While Novo Nordisk assures that it has prepared sufficient stocks to meet demand, the question of its reimbursement by Social Security remains open, and could well become a central subject in the months to come.
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