On 3 November 2026 the TGA approved the first oral GLP-1 in Australia — a once-daily semaglutide tablet. Here is what has actually been decided so far: what it is, whether it is on the PBS, the likely cost, and when it reaches pharmacies.
📋 Sources: Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — registration decision, 3 November 2026. ABC News, 3 November 2026. PBS eligibility rules — pbs.gov.au. Price and availability are not yet set and will be updated here as they are confirmed. This page provides general information only — not medical advice, and not an endorsement of any medicine.
New — approved 3 November 2026. This is a developing story. The medicine is approved but not yet on pharmacy shelves, and an Australian price has not been published. This page is a plain status tracker and will be updated as details are confirmed.
The short version: Oral Wegovy is a once-daily semaglutide tablet — the same active drug as the Wegovy injection. The TGA approved it on 3 November 2026 for adults with obesity, or to reduce cardiovascular risk. It is prescription-only, not subsidised by the PBS for weight management (so it is a private script), no Australian price has been set yet, and it was expected in pharmacies before Christmas 2026 pending final TGA checks.
What has been approved
Medicine: Wegovy (semaglutide), oral tablet — Novo Nordisk. The first GLP-1 medicine approved by the TGA in tablet form; the existing Wegovy and Ozempic products are injections.
Strengths approved: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg, stepped up over time.
Form: a once-daily tablet. Oral semaglutide is designed to be taken on an empty stomach with a small sip of water; follow the product information and your pharmacist's directions.
Who it is approved for: adults with obesity, or adults who need to reduce cardiovascular risk — broadly the same group as the injectable version. A doctor decides whether it is suitable for an individual.
Cost and the PBS
Not on the PBS for weight management. The PBS subsidises semaglutide only for people with type 2 diabetes. For weight management, the oral tablet is a private prescription — paid in full by the patient — the same situation as the Wegovy and Mounjaro injections.
No Australian price set yet. Novo Nordisk had not published an Australian price at approval. In the United States the tablet has generally cost less than the injection, even though each tablet contains more semaglutide — but that is not a guide to the Australian price. We will add real figures here once pharmacies quote them.
We are not publishing a dollar figure we cannot verify. When it is available, ask your pharmacy for the current price, or use the tools below to compare the cost of other options.
Not on shelves yet. Approval is one step; the TGA still had to review the packaging and production processes, which must meet quality standards before release.
Expected before Christmas 2026 — this timing is an expectation reported at approval, not a guaranteed date, and supply of weight-management medicines in Australia has been limited in the past.
How access works: as a prescription-only medicine, you would see a doctor to discuss whether it is appropriate, and fill the script at a pharmacy. We do not advise for or against any medicine — that is a conversation for you and your GP.
Not for weight management. At approval (3 November 2026) the oral tablet was not PBS-subsidised for weight management. The PBS subsidises semaglutide only for type 2 diabetes, so for weight management it is a private prescription paid in full by the patient. If this changes, we will update this page.
No Australian price had been published at approval. As a private script, the full cost falls to the patient. In the United States the tablet has generally cost less than the injection, but that is not a reliable guide to the Australian price. We will add verified figures here once pharmacies quote them — we are not going to print a number we cannot confirm.
It was expected to reach pharmacies before Christmas 2026, pending the TGA's review of packaging and production. That is an expectation, not a fixed date, and supply of these medicines has been limited in the past.
The active ingredient is semaglutide — the same drug as the Wegovy injection, in a daily tablet instead of a weekly injection. Ozempic is also semaglutide, but it is PBS-listed for type 2 diabetes and must not be prescribed for weight loss. Whether any of these is appropriate for you is a decision for you and your GP.
Both are oral semaglutide tablets, but they are different products approved for different uses and at different strengths. Rybelsus is a lower-strength oral semaglutide used in type 2 diabetes. The newly approved oral Wegovy is a higher-strength tablet (up to 25 mg) approved for weight management and cardiovascular risk. Your pharmacist or GP can explain the difference for your situation.
Yes. It is a prescription-only medicine. A doctor assesses whether it is suitable for you, taking your health history and other medicines into account.
Last verified against sources: 4 November 2026. Approval details are settled; price and pharmacy availability are not yet set and will be updated here as confirmed.