A daily weight-loss pill could be on its way to New Zealand, with 1News able to reveal Medsafe is considering its first application for an oral GLP-1 drug.
Australia’s medical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), approved its first GLP-1 tablet, an oral version of Wegovy, this week. Patients across the Tasman are expected to have access to it by the end of the year.
The pill is taken daily, unlike the weekly injection.
When 1News approached Medsafe about the decision across the Tasman, a spokesperson said it "has received an application for Wegovy oral tablets… submitted under one of Medsafe’s reliance pathways".
Under that pathway, the regulator would rely on "trusted overseas" findings to halve the target timeframes for approval.
A daily weight-loss pill, approved by Australia days ago, is a step closer as Medsafe considers its first application. (Source: 1News)
"In general, we aim to complete the initial assessment for medicines in this category in around 75 working days, however it may take more time before the medicine approved for use. This is based on a number of factors, including the time it may take for the pharmaceutical company to respond to Medsafe’s requests for additional information or evidence," it said.
Medsafe would also assess information provided to "ensure that the product meets international standards for safety, quality and efficacy before it is approved".
No other weight-loss drug is being considered for approval.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has been keeping an eye on the weight-loss drugs after the injection version was given the green light in 2025.
Medical director Dr Prabani Wood told 1News the tablet would give people options.
“So many people may not enjoy injecting a drug, so a tablet certainly is more palatable. But I think it's important to make clear just because this medication has been approved in Australia, there's still no decision made around the funding and access to it.”
One of the main details is how much the weight-loss drug will cost Australians, as it is thought to be more affordable.
In some cases, Kiwis could pay around $600 for the injection drug since it is not currently funded for most people.
Wood said access needed to be fair.
“What we would want to see in terms of access is there’s equitable access. It’s not just available for people who can afford it. So that would be the real key in terms of helping our population in New Zealand.”
However, she said there are still factors to be considered when it comes to weight-loss drugs.
“I think there’s definitely evidence that these drugs are effective in helping people to lose weight. And I think it's also key to frame obesity as a disease. It's not something that people choose. So, people that need help should be able to access a treatment that works.”
She added: “I think the big missing factor here in this discussion is, yes, we've got a treatment for something, but also I would love for our policymakers to look at what causes obesity in the first place”.
Unlike the popular weight-loss injection which is administered weekly, the tablet version would be taken as a daily dose.
Wellingtonian Valentina Florez-Betancur has been on her own self-funded GLP-1 journey and told 1News she is at her “lowest weight that I have probably been in eight years”.
“I went from 83kgs to 63kgs,” she said, and wants to lose 6kgs more.
When asked about the pill version she told 1News: “The pill for a lot of GLP-1 users is more like a maintenance thing rather than a starter. For me personally, I think I would only feel comfortable getting off my GLP-1 [injection] once New Zealand has the pill form approved.”
While the tablet could be more affordable, Wood said: “We've also got to be aware that we don't have long-term evidence on safety. We don't have long-term evidence of effectiveness.”
Florez-Betancur hopes the stigma is removed around use of the medication.
“People misunderstand. I think [they think] you just go on it, and you can just sit on your sofa and do nothing. No.”
“In order to see changes you also need to put in the work yourself. It's just this tool gets rid of the main thing which is obviously your food cravings.”
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