A new Ozempic copycat drug will soon arrive in Spain, but what is the new weight loss drug and who is it for?
The Spanish Agency for Health Products and Medicines (AEMPS) has authorized the marketing of Wegovy (semaglutide) in Spain.
The drug is an alternative to the popular weight loss drug Ozempic, which is currently in short supply.
It is usually targeted at patients with type 2 diabetes and is one of the world’s leading anti-obesity drugs.
Read more: Can you buy Ozempic in Spain? And how much does it cost? What you need to know as demand for slimming pills soars
Its main active ingredient is semaglutide, a drug that suppresses appetite and makes you feel full.
Wegovy says, “It works by suppressing the part of the brain that controls appetite, giving you a feeling of fullness and reducing your hunger, so you don’t feel the need to eat.”
Like Ozempic, this drug is administered by weekly injections.
Typically, patients start with a topical dose of 0.25 mg and increase the dose over 16 weeks.
Read more: Spain investigates side effects of weight loss drugs Ozempic and Saxenda
The maintenance dose is set at 2.4 mg and costs 128 euros.
It is only available under prescription and diabetics are given priority.
To prescribe Wegovy, the following requirements must be met:
- BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, hypertension, diabetes, or other disease.
- Adolescents aged 12 years and older who are obese or weigh more than 60 kg.
Doctors will evaluate each case individually and advise on a healthy diet combined with physical activity.
However, drugs such as Wigovy and Ozempic are being studied for side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and fatigue.
Read more: Stephen Fry slams Ozempic: England star, 66, says drug makes him ‘vomit five times a day’ – Drug sales soar in Spain
