The weight loss injection Wegovy had already triggered a hype in the USA. The controversial slimming product will soon be available in German pharmacies – and will cost significantly less in this country.
The controversial weight loss injection Wegovy comes to Germany. From next week onwards, the drug from the Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk will probably be available to order from pharmaceutical wholesalers for pharmacies. “We assume that Wegovy will be available in pharmacies from the end of July,” said a spokeswoman for the pharmaceutical company. The price of the drug is significantly lower than in the USA.
According to Nova Nordisk, the selling price for the four-week starting dose of 0.25 mg is around 172 euros. The patient is then injected weekly with a gradually increasing dose for 16 weeks. For the highest maintenance dose of 2.4 mg, the selling price is around 302 euros for 28 days. If the therapy is continued with the maximum dose, the patient will face monthly costs of around 328 euros. For comparison, in the US, the price for the maximum dose is $1350.
cash patients have to pay for the medication themselves
The obesity drug Wegovy has been approved in the EU since 2022. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the drug is used to help overweight adults lose weight and keep it under control in the future.
According to Novo Nordisk, doctors can prescribe the drug for obesity patients as of July 17th. However, cash patients have to pay for the drug out of their own pocket. In Germany, weight control medications are not reimbursed by statutory health insurance companies.
Delivery bottlenecks in the USA
In the USA, the controversial weight loss injection had previously made waves. Celebrities such as tech billionaire Elon Musk and reality star Kim Kardashian are said to have lost weight with the syringe, triggering a hype about the active ingredient.
Novo Nordisk has already had to restrict access to the drug for new patients in the US. Due to the immense demand, there are always delivery bottlenecks.