Shortage of diabetes, weight loss drug Ozempic expected in Canada

A scarcity of diabetes drug Ozempic that’s used off-label for weight reduction is predicted in Canada, producer Novo Nordisk and Health Canada mentioned on Friday.

“We are experiencing a temporary supply disruption with the Ozempic 1 mg (injection) pen due to the combination of overall global supply constraints coupled with increased demand,” mentioned Novo Nordisk spokesperson Kate Hanna in an emailed assertion.

Canada is one in all “many countries” experiencing a scarcity and the corporate is working with Health Canada to mitigate the impression, Hanna added.

On its web site, the federal regulator mentioned “intermittent shortages” are anticipated from late August to early October.

The lower-dose Ozempic injection pens of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg stay obtainable and “may be an option for some patients” as an alterative, Health Canada’s net web page mentioned.

But swapping in a number of decrease doses to exchange the 1 mg dose will not be more likely to deal with the necessity, mentioned Barry Power, appearing chief pharmacist officer for the Canadian Pharmacists Association.

People with diabetes often begin taking Ozempic at a 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg dose earlier than shifting as much as 1 mg, which is the upkeep dose, he mentioned.

“Because they are starting doses, the inventory would be a lot lower in general because most people are only on those for a short period of time,” mentioned Power, who can also be a practising pharmacist in Ottawa.

“So it may be a stopgap for a few people, but I think most people, if they run into a situation where they’re unable to get the prescription refilled, they will have to work with their health-care professional to sort out an alternative option for them.”

If sufferers aren’t due for a refill till October or later, they is probably not affected by the scarcity in any respect, Power mentioned.

For those that do want refills, pharmacists will doubtless “only fill a one-month supply at any given time over the next little while until the supply is replenished at the global level,” he mentioned.

“It will be important to avoid further shortages,” Health Canada’s net web page mentioned.

Health Canada and Novo Nordisk are “closely monitoring” the availability of Rybelsus, which is the tablet type of semaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Ozempic, it mentioned.

“Patients are encouraged to consult with a health-care practitioner on available options,” Health Canada mentioned.

Ozempic and Rybelsus are presently permitted by Health Canada for the therapy of Type 2 diabetes.

Endocrinologists have beforehand instructed The Canadian Press that semaglutide, prescribed at greater doses, can also be an efficient therapy for weight problems and that they’ve prescribed it off-label for that objective.

But some medical doctors and ethics consultants have criticized Novo Nordisk for aggressively advertising and marketing each Ozempic and Rybelsus in Canada in current months, citing considerations that individuals will search prescriptions for beauty weight reduction.

When requested if Novo Nordisk would encourage medical doctors to cease prescribing Ozempic off-label for weight reduction, Hanna mentioned the corporate “does not promote, suggest, or encourage off-label use of our medicines and is committed to fully complying with all applicable Canadian laws and regulations in the promotion of our products.”

“While we respect every health-care provider’s clinical expertise and their right to prescribe treatment based on their own medical judgment, we ask that health-care professionals prescribe semaglutide medicines consistent with their Health Canada-approved indications,” she mentioned.

Another semaglutide drug manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy, has been permitted by Health Canada for the therapy of weight problems, however it isn’t but obtainable on this nation.

The put up Shortage of diabetes, weight reduction drug Ozempic anticipated in Canada appeared first on CityNews Calgary.