On 26 June 2025, New Zealand Doctor reported that Novo Nordisk is set to launch Wegovy® (semaglutide) in New Zealand from 1 July 2025.
New Zealand’s Medsafe approved Wegovy® in March 2025 for two indications:
- an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and above; and
- as an adjunct to standard of care therapy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) without established Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide was first approved in New Zealand as Ozempic® in March 2023, indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.
Wegovy® was launched in Australia in August 2024, following its approval in September 2022 for weight management. In December 2024, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved an indication extension for Wegovy® to reduce the risk of MACE in overweight and obese adults with established CVD and without established Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.