Wegovy, a promising new drug against obesity, is finally available in France. But be careful, access to it is strictly controlled to avoid any misuse. Find out who will really benefit from it and under what conditions…
It’s a small revolution in the fight against obesity. Since this Tuesday, French pharmacies can finally deliver Wegovy, a new drug which raises a lot of hope. But there is no question of rushing into this innovative treatment. Its access is in fact strictly regulated in order to avoid any misuse for aesthetic purposes. So, who will really be able to benefit from Wegovy and under what conditions? We take stock.
Treatment reserved for people suffering from severe obesity
First condition to be eligible for Wegovy: suffer from severe obesity. Concretely, only patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 35 kg/m2 and aged under 65 will be able to be prescribed this medication, as indicated by the National Medicines Safety Agency. (ANSM). Wegovy cannot therefore be used for weight loss purposes for people who are simply overweight.
A last resort treatment
Another condition to benefit from Wegovy: having previously failed to lose weight despite nutritional support. In other words, this medication can only be considered as a last resort, when traditional health and dietary measures (diet, physical activity, etc.) have not been sufficient. Once again a way to ensure that Wegovy will only be used in the most severe cases of obesity.
A very supervised prescription
To limit the risks of diversion, the ANSM has also decided to restrict the initial prescription of Wegovy to specialists in endocrinology-diabetology-nutrition only. However, general practitioners will be able to renew the treatment. A strict care pathway which aims to guarantee the correct use of the medication.
It will cost between 270 and 330 euros for a box of four Wegovy injections.
– Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France
High cost, uncertain reimbursement
If the conditions of access to Wegovy are restrictive, the cost of treatment also risks holding back more than one person. Count on “between 270 and 330 euros” for a box of four injections, according to Philippe Besset, the president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France. A substantial budget, especially since for the moment, reimbursement of Wegovy by Social Security is not guaranteed. However, negotiations are underway and could be concluded within a few months.
In the meantime, Wegovy remains an innovative drug but access to it is far from easy. Between strict criteria to be able to benefit from it and a high cost in the absence of reimbursement, it is difficult for the moment to imagine a generalization of this treatment. But there is no doubt that its arrival in France nevertheless marks an important step forward in the fight against severe obesity.
