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Novo Nordisk has today announced that Wegovy (semaglutide injection) is now available in the UK through a controlled and limited launch. The drug is intended to provide new treatment options to patients living with obesity.

The drug will now be available via specialist NHS weight management services for patients meeting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) criteria or privately via a registered healthcare professional. The NHS services will also provide patients with support around diet and exercise.

Novo Nordisk has stated that it is likely that supply of the drug will be constrained for the foreseeable future, with a proportion of this supply set aside for use within the NHS to allow healthcare professionals to implement NICE guidance. The company plans to work with healthcare professionals to ensure that patients with the greatest unmet medical need are prioritised in receiving this treatment.

According to the company’s press release: “We are dedicated to bringing additional treatment options to people living with obesity and share the Government’s ambition to make obesity care accessible where there is high unmet medical need. […]We believe the launch of Wegovy will help provide an additional option to support people living with obesity in the UK and look forward to working with healthcare providers to achieve this.”