From 1 July, the weight-loss drug Wegovy will become available from Belgian pharmacists on prescription. This means Wegovy is now the 3rd semaglutide-based drug available in Belgium. Earlier Ozempic and Mounjaro went on sale.
Unlike Ozempic, which was originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy was specifically developed to treat obesity. The drug contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, which suppresses appetite. Rybelsus, a pill version of Ozempic, is also on the market for diabetes patients.
At present, Wegovy is not yet reimbursed by the health insurance. Manufacturer Novo Nordisk has applied for it to be reimbursed, but a decision is not expected until early next year. If agreed, reimbursement will not be retroactive.
In the case of Ozempic and Mounjaro, reimbursement only applies when the drug is prescribed for type 2 diabetes. The manufacturer of Mounjaro is filing an application to get the drug reimbursed also when it is used to treat obesity.