New Zealand's medicines regulator has received its first application for an oral GLP-1 weight-loss drug, 1News reports. Medsafe confirmed it is assessing an application for Wegovy tablets, submitted through one of the agency's reliance pathways.
The disclosure came after Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration approved its first GLP-1 tablet, an oral form of Wegovy, this week. According to 1News, patients in Australia are expected to be able to access the drug before the end of the year.
Why it matters
GLP-1 medicines have become a major topic in weight management, first as weekly injections and now as a daily tablet. An approved pill would give New Zealanders who dislike needles another route to treatment.
Medsafe told 1News that under the reliance pathway it uses findings from trusted overseas regulators, which halves the target timeframes for approval. The agency said it generally aims to finish an initial assessment for medicines in this category in about 75 working days, though approval for use may take longer. Timing depends on factors including how quickly the pharmaceutical company responds to requests for further information or evidence.
Medsafe added that it would still assess the supplied information to confirm the product meets international standards for safety, quality and efficacy before any approval.
What clinicians are saying
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has been monitoring weight-loss medicines since the injectable version was approved in 2025. Its medical director, Dr Prabani Wood, told 1News that a tablet would widen people's choices.
She noted that many people do not like injecting a drug, making a tablet a more acceptable option. But she stressed that Australian approval does not settle the question of funding or access in New Zealand.
Cost is a central issue. According to 1News, the injection drug can cost New Zealanders around $600 in some cases because it is not currently funded for most people. Wood said equitable access is what the college wants to see, so the treatment is not limited to those who can pay.
She also raised the limits of the current evidence. While there is clear evidence the drugs help people lose weight, Wood said there is no long-term data on safety or effectiveness. She argued obesity should be treated as a disease rather than a personal choice, and that people who need help should be able to get treatment that works. She added that policymakers should also examine what causes obesity in the first place.
A user's perspective
Wellington resident Valentina Florez-Betancur has been paying for GLP-1 treatment herself. She told 1News she is now at her lowest weight in about eight years.
Asked about the tablet, she said many GLP-1 users see the pill as a maintenance option rather than a starting point. She said she would only feel comfortable stopping her injection once New Zealand approves the tablet form.
The oral version differs from the widely used injection in how often it is taken: the tablet is a daily dose, while the injection is given weekly.
Florez-Betancur also pushed back on a common misconception about the drugs. She said people assume you can take them and remain inactive, but she believes users still have to put in effort themselves. In her view, the medication mainly removes food cravings, which she described as the central obstacle.
The next signal to watch is Medsafe's assessment outcome, and separately whether any funding decision follows for New Zealand patients.
