Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a daily tablet version of Wegovy, the country’s first GLP-1 weight-loss pill, giving patients an alternative to weekly injections.
The approval, granted on Tuesday evening, covers Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide formulation in 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg strengths. The indications — chronic weight management and reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in eligible adults — are consistent with those approved for the injectable version of Wegovy, a TGA spokesperson told newsGP.
Until now, Australians prescribed GLP-1 medicines for weight loss have had to inject themselves once a week. The tablet is taken every morning on an empty stomach, stays stable at room temperature and does not require refrigeration — a practical difference that doctors say matters, particularly for people who dislike injections or travel frequently.
Not in pharmacies yet
Approval is not the same as availability. The medicine is not yet on the market: the TGA still needs to review packaging and production processes before it can be supplied in Australia, and Novo Nordisk says it is “working towards bringing this new treatment option to eligible Australians, with anticipated availability later this year”.
No Australian price has been set. The injectable forms are not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for weight loss, except for type 2 diabetes, so the tablet would initially be on a private prescription unless that changes. The federal government is in negotiations with the manufacturer about bringing Wegovy onto the PBS for a small cohort of patients, which would cut the price to $25 per script, or $7.70 for concession card holders, according to AAP reporting.
Who is eligible
The approval covers adults with obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and adults who are overweight, with a BMI between 27 and 30, who have at least one weight-related health condition. A doctor’s prescription is required, and treatment starts at a lower dose, gradually increased over about 16 weeks under medical supervision.
The TGA has also warned against combining weight-loss drug formulations: concomitant use of Wegovy tablets or injection with other semaglutide-containing products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist is not recommended.
How it fits the global picture
Australia follows the United States and the United Kingdom, where the oral formulation was approved late last year and in June respectively. In the US, the tablet went on sale after Food and Drug Administration approval in December 2025 and saw strong prescribing when released on 5 January this year, according to newsGP.
Rival Eli Lilly‘s weight-loss tablet, orforglipron, is still awaiting a TGA decision, the ABC reports — so Wegovy’s pill currently stands alone as Australia’s approved oral GLP-1 option.
Doctors welcomed the approval as a step forward for access. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright described it as “a step forward” for patients, while endocrinologist John Wentworth told ABC News Breakfast that trial data indicated the tablet worked just as well as the injections.
What to watch next
Three questions remain open: the confirmed pharmacy availability date, the private price, and whether PBS negotiations produce a subsidised listing for any patient group. Until the TGA completes its packaging and production reviews, patients should not expect to pick up the tablet — and should talk to their GP rather than switching formulations on their own.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Anyone considering a weight-loss medicine should discuss benefits, risks and alternatives with their doctor.
FAQ
Is the Wegovy tablet available in Australia now?
No. It has TGA approval, but packaging and production reviews must be completed first; Novo Nordisk expects availability later this year.
How is the tablet taken?
Once daily, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, with a wait of at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else, according to prescribing guidance reported in Australia.
How much will it cost?
No Australian price has been announced, and it is not PBS-subsidised for weight loss at present.
Sources
- newsGP / RACGP, “TGA approves Wegovy weight-loss pill”, 4 Nov 2026 (via syndication): https://www.europesays.com/dk/198084/
- AAP via Blayney Chronicle, “First weight-loss tablet approved for use in Australia”, 4 Nov 2026: https://www-waginargus-com-au.suzuka.uat2.newsnow.io/story/7917837/first-weight-loss-tablet-approved-for-use-in-australia/?cs=27
- Health and Me, “Australia Approves First GLP-1 Weight Loss Pill: How It Works & Who Is Eligible”, 4 Nov 2026: https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/australia-approves-first-glp-1-weight-loss-pill-how-it-works-who-is-eligible-article-156464346
