(Reuters) – Novo Nordisk is pushing forward with the launches of weight-loss drug Wegovy in Europe even because it struggles to maintain up with demand. The Danish drugmaker is working to persuade European governments and insurers to reimburse the drug, looking for to place it as greater than a life-style drug.
Beneath are the nations the place Wegovy has been launched thus far:
U.S.
Wegovy was launched within the U.S. in June 2021 nevertheless it took Novo till December 2022 to make all doses obtainable there due to an preliminary manufacturing outage.
The listing value of four-week therapy is about $1,350, no matter dosage, not taking any coupons and rebates into consideration.
The weekly injections are began at 0.25 milligrams of lively ingredient semaglutide and regularly elevated to the upkeep dose of two.4 milligrams.
DENMARK
Wegovy was made obtainable in all dose strengths in Denmark in early 2023. A four-week provide of the upkeep dose prices 2,370.60 Danish crowns ($343.59).
The general public well being care system in Denmark doesn’t reimburse any weight-loss medication and the nation’s largest non-public well being insurer, which insures roughly half the nation’s inhabitants, will cease reimbursing weight-loss medicine from January subsequent 12 months on account of excessive demand.
The Danish ministry of well being has mentioned reimbursing Wegovy would price the state as a lot as $4 billion annually.
NORWAY
In Norway, Wegovy was launched in all dose strengths in early 2023. The four-week provide of the upkeep dose prices 2,775.30 Norwegian crowns ($261.13).
Norwegian Medicines Company mentioned in January it will not subsidise the drug for therapy of weight problems, saying the worth can be too excessive in relation to the documented well being results.
GERMANY
Wegovy was launched in Germany on July 29, priced at 301.91 euros ($325.97) for 4 weeks at upkeep dose. Starter dose is priced at 171.92 euros for 4 weeks.
The price of the drug is not going to be reimbursed for about 90% of Germans coated by public medical health insurance plans, underneath a regulation that bans them from overlaying weight-loss medication.
For the ten% with non-public medical health insurance, protection varies. Insurer Allianz has mentioned it will pay for the drug if the individual handled is recognized with a medical want, whereas rival Debeka mentioned its plans excluded weight-loss remedies.
BRITAIN
Wegovy was made obtainable in Britain on Sept. 4, in what Novo known as a “managed and restricted launch”. The corporate has not specified the worth or how a lot it will provide.
Easy On-line Pharmacy, a UK-based on-line pharmacy chain, mentioned it will promote Wegovy within the vary of 199 kilos to 299 kilos ($251-$377) together with a session with a common practitioner, prescription and meting out prices.
Novo mentioned the drug can be obtainable each inside the Nationwide Well being Service’s weight administration scheme and “privately by a registered healthcare skilled”.
($1 = 6.8995 Danish crowns)
($1 = 10.6280 Norwegian crowns)
($1 = 0.9262 euros)
($1 = 0.7921 kilos)
(Compiled by Agata Rybska and Elviira Luoma in Gdansk; Modifying by Ludwig Burger and Milla Nissi)