Wegovy®▼ (semaglutide injection) approved by MHRA for 48-hour controlled-temperature delivery

• The MHRA has approved an update to the product information of Wegovy^® (semaglutide injection) FlexTouch™, allowing it to be delivered to patients through controlled shipment at temperatures below 30°C for up to 48 hours
• This makes Wegovy^® the first GLP-1 for weight management with this approval in the UK

GATWICK, UK, 23 April – The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved an update to the product information for Wegovy^®▼(semaglutide injection) FlexTouch^® that allows for controlled shipment at temperatures below 30°C for up to 48 hours, reducing distribution complexity and supporting reliability of home delivery models for pharmacies and online partners.

This approval makes Wegovy^® the first GLP-1 for weight management with this approval in the UK and comes after the European Medicines agency (EMA) also approved the product information update on 12 April.

Until now, Wegovy^® has been subject to full 'cold chain' requirements during transit – meaning the medicine had to be kept cold from where it is made to where it is used.  This latest approval means there is now added flexibility for the final stage: delivery of Wegovy^® from pharmacies to patients can occur within a 48-hour window at temperatures up to 30°C.

In the UK there is increasing adoption of direct-to-patient distribution models, including delivery through online pharmacies and other non-traditional dispensing channels. The reduced dependence on cold chain transport for Wegovy^® is expected to lessen the environmental footprint by reducing packaging volume and weight, as well as providing new delivery options for pharmacies and online partners.

“Across the UK, pharmacists and other healthcare providers are increasingly using direct delivery of medicines to patients' homes. We welcome the approval by the MHRA, which will help these providers reduce delivery complexities, supporting efficiency and sustainability in the final stage of delivery to patients,” said Sebnem Avsar Tuna, General Manager, Novo Nordisk UK.

The approved update to the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for Wegovy^® is aimed at healthcare providers, including doctors and pharmacists. There is no change to the patient leaflets for Wegovy^®.

It is important to note that this applies only to Wegovy^® FlexTouch^® injection.