Australians looking to get aboard the weight-loss drug revolution can expect cheaper access with the first daily tablet version now medically approved.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration this week cleared various doses of the Wegovy tablet, made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

Previously, Australians had to take the GLP-1 weight-loss drug via a  weekly injection.

The TGA said it had approved it for weight management and for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events – like stroke or heart attack – in eligible adults.

The semaglutide tablets have been approved in 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg strengths, and added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

The price of the pill-version of the drugs has not been announced, but the injectables are not on Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, apart from for those with Type 2 Diabetes.

As a result, about 400,000 Australians currently pay up to $5000 a year to access Wegovy, Ozempic and other GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

However, the federal government is currently in negotiations with the manufacturer to bring Wegovy onto the scheme for a small cohort of extra patients, which would bring the price down to $25 per script or $7.70 for concession card holders.

Novo Nordisk said it expected the pill would be available in Australia before the end of the year.

Endocrinologist John Wentworth welcomed the news, saying it would make the drug easier for patients to take.

He said trial data indicated the tablet version of the drug worked just as well as the jabs.

He told ABC News Breakfast that many individuals prefer to avoid self-injecting, particularly when travelling.

The approval would also lead to the drug being cheaper and more accessible, Wentworth said.

“When the price comes down, we will be treating these just as we treat a blood pressure or a cholesterol medication because they have such powerful benefits to keep us well for longer,” he said.

The daily tablet form of the appetite-suppressing medication was approved for use in the UK in June and in the US late last year.

So how do the tablets work?

Researchers at the University of Queensland point out that semaglutide acts on the brain and digestive system by reducing hunger, increasing feelings of fullness and slowing how quickly food leaves the stomach.

This can help people feel satisfied with smaller meals and reduce how often they feel hungry.

The medicine is intended for adults living with obesity, or people who are overweight and have other weight-related health conditions. It may also be prescribed to some people with heart (cardiovascular) disease to reduce their risk of serious heart problems, such as heart attack or stroke.

These medicines are not intended as a quick fix for people wanting to lose a few kilograms. They are prescription treatments that should be considered as part of a person’s broader health needs, with guidance from a health-care professional.

Pills versus injections?

The Wegovy tablet must be taken daily, on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, with a 30-minute wait before you eat or drink anything other than water. They contain a special absorption aid to pass through stomach acid, to allow it to be absorbed properly and work effectively.

In contrast, the injection can be done any time of day, once weekly, with or without food.

Both formats work to make you stay fuller faster, and trials showed similar gastrointestinal effects especially when first starting.

Overall, they show similar rates of weight loss, with the tablet showing a 14 per cent body weight loss over 64–68 weeks, and the injection showing a 15 per cent weight reduction.

However, the pill’s effectiveness relies on people remembering to take it each day and not eat or drink within half an hour of the dose, rather than just remembering to inject the drug once a week.

-with AAP and the Conversation