PBAC rejects semaglutide listing for severe obesity
It was Novo Nordisk's second application for taxpayer funding.
Semaglutide manufacturer Novo Nordisk has lost its second bid for Wegovy to be PBS-listed as a severe obesity treatment, with the PBAC deciding it would not be cost-effective for taxpayers.
Wegovy — which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic — is TGA-registered for treating obesity or overweight in patients with one or more weight-related comorbidities.
However, Novo Nordisk is yet to market the product in Australia.
After its first PBS bid for Wegovy was rejected back in 2022, the pharmaceutical giant returned with a new cost–benefit analysis.
