The company behind Wegovy, the first-ever oral medication for weight loss in adults, says the pill could soon be available in Canada, pending approval from federal health authorities.
U.S. regulators recently greenlit the once-daily pill, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting approval on Monday, Novo Nordisk confirmed in a statement Tuesday.
“Novo Nordisk Canada has applied for Health Canada approval of the Wegovy pill,” a company spokesperson told Global News via email.
In Canada, drugs can only be sold after successfully completing the review process conducted by Health Canada. Applications are evaluated by the Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), which consults both in-house scientists and, occasionally, external experts to assess the safety, efficacy, and quality of the drug.
If approved, the Wegovy pill is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to help patients lose weight and maintain the results, the company said. Additionally, the pill may reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks and strokes.
Clinical trials conducted in the U.S. demonstrated that patients taking the pill once daily, combined with diet and exercise, achieved an average weight loss of approximately 17 per cent, according to Novo Nordisk.
However, the company cautioned that potential users should consult their doctor regarding side effects. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, fatigue, dizziness, bloating, belching, heartburn, low blood sugar in patients with Type 2 diabetes, and upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose or sore throat. More serious risks may include thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, severe allergic reactions, and depression or suicidal thoughts.
Currently, medications in the GLP-1 class, which includes Wegovy, are administered via weekly injections. While the oral pill offers convenience, it may be slightly less effective than the injection form, according to Dr. Fahad Razak, an internal medicine physician at St. Michael’s Hospital and professor at the University of Toronto.
“The first thing that people should know is that the weekly injection is a more effective means of weight loss,” Dr. Razak said. “Most of my patients, over time, manage the self-injection without too much difficulty.”
However, he noted that the oral option may appeal to patients hesitant about injections. “For those who are reluctant to do weekly injections, the oral alternative could be something to consider. It’s not as effective, but it may make the treatment more accessible for some patients,” he added.
