Weight Loss Medication in Australia
Australia has 6 TGA-approved medications for weight management. The landscape is shifting fast: Wegovy launched in August 2024, the PBAC recommended PBS listing in January 2026 (price negotiations underway), compounded GLP-1 replicas were banned from October 2024, and Saxenda was discontinued in December 2025.
Average weight loss in trials
% body weightHighest approved dose in pivotal trials. Individual results vary.
Approved Australian Weight Loss Medications
Ozempic
Semaglutide 0.25-1mg
- Class
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Form
- Weekly subcutaneous injection
TGA approved for type 2 diabetes; off-label weight loss restricted since Oct 2024
Ozempic weight loss medication
Wegovy
Semaglutide 0.25-2.4mg
- Class
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Form
- Weekly injection (oral pill in US only)
TGA approved for weight management; PBS listing pending (PBAC recommended Jan 2026)
Wegovy weight loss medication
Mounjaro
Tirzepatide 2.5-15mg
- Class
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Form
- Weekly injection
TGA approved for diabetes and weight management; not PBS listed
Mounjaro weight loss medication
Contrave
Naltrexone/Bupropion ER
- Class
- Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination
- Form
- Daily oral tablets
TGA approved for weight management; oral tablet, no injections needed
Contrave weight loss medication
Orlistat
Orlistat 60mg (OTC) / 120mg (Rx)
- Class
- Lipase inhibitor
- Form
- Oral capsule with meals (up to 3x daily)
Available over-the-counter (60mg); cheapest option with 27 years of safety data
Orlistat weight loss medication
Saxenda
Liraglutide 3mg
- Class
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Form
- Daily injection
Discontinued in Australia (December 2025)
Saxenda weight loss medicationEfficacy Comparison
Average body weight reduction from clinical trials at highest approved dose
Clinical trial data at highest approved doses. Individual results vary. Ozempic figures from STEP trials at higher semaglutide doses.
Australian Monthly Cost
Private/out-of-pocket monthly cost in AUD
Ozempic PBS subsidised price for diabetes is $31.60. Saxenda omitted (discontinued). Wegovy PBS listing pending. PBS price if listed: $25/script ($7.70 concession).
Compare Weight Loss Medications
Every medication currently supplied in Australia, side by side. Open a name for the full guide.
- Drug class
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- How taken
- Weekly injection
- First approved
- 2017 (FDA), 2019 (TGA)
- Prescription needed?
- Yes
- AU supply status
- Constrained (improving)
- Drug class
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- How taken
- Weekly injection (oral pill in US only)
- First approved
- 2021 (FDA), 2024 (TGA)
- Prescription needed?
- Yes
- AU supply status
- Stable
- Drug class
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
- How taken
- Weekly injection
- First approved
- 2022 (FDA), 2023 (TGA)
- Prescription needed?
- Yes
- AU supply status
- Stable
- Drug class
- Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination
- How taken
- Daily oral tablets
- First approved
- 2014 (FDA), 2019 (TGA)
- Prescription needed?
- Yes
- AU supply status
- No issues
- Drug class
- Lipase inhibitor
- How taken
- Oral capsule with meals (up to 3x daily)
- First approved
- 1999 (FDA), 2000 (TGA)
- Prescription needed?
- OTC (60mg) / Rx (120mg)
- AU supply status
- Widely available
Costs are indicative and vary by dose, pharmacy and PBS eligibility. Saxenda is not shown because it was discontinued in December 2025.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Detailed side-by-side comparison pages for each medication pair.
Mounjaro vs Ozempic
~21% vs ~15% avg. weight loss
Wegovy vs Mounjaro
~15-17% vs ~21% avg. weight loss
Wegovy vs Ozempic
~15-17% vs ~15% avg. weight loss
Saxenda vs Ozempic
~8% vs ~15% avg. weight loss
Saxenda vs Wegovy
~8% vs ~15-17% avg. weight loss
Saxenda vs Mounjaro
~8% vs ~21% avg. weight loss
Contrave vs Ozempic
~5-8% vs ~15% avg. weight loss
Contrave vs Mounjaro
~5-8% vs ~21% avg. weight loss
Contrave vs Wegovy
~5-8% vs ~15-17% avg. weight loss
Contrave vs Saxenda
~5-8% vs ~8% avg. weight loss
Contrave vs Orlistat
~5-8% vs ~3-5% avg. weight loss
Orlistat vs Ozempic
~3-5% vs ~15% avg. weight loss
Orlistat vs Wegovy
~3-5% vs ~15-17% avg. weight loss
Orlistat vs Mounjaro
~3-5% vs ~21% avg. weight loss
Orlistat vs Saxenda
~3-5% vs ~8% avg. weight loss
Australian Regulatory Context
Compounding Ban (Oct 2024)
Pharmacies can no longer compound replicas of GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Mounjaro). Previously, unregulated compounded versions were widely available but linked to safety concerns, contamination, and inconsistent dosing. Banned from 1 October 2024 under changes to the Therapeutic Goods Act.
Off-label Restrictions
Ozempic is NOT approved for weight loss in Australia. Since October 2024, new off-label private prescriptions for weight loss are heavily restricted. Existing patients on off-label scripts can continue.
Wegovy PBS Listing (Pending)
In January 2026, the PBAC recommended Wegovy be subsidised for adults with BMI ≥35 (≥32.5 for Asian, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander populations) and established cardiovascular disease (prior heart attack, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease). Price negotiations with Novo Nordisk are underway. If listed, cost drops to $25/script ($7.70 concession).
Saxenda Discontinued (Dec 2025)
Novo Nordisk discontinued Saxenda (liraglutide) in Australia, shifting manufacturing to the more effective Wegovy (semaglutide).
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We are not medical professionals and nothing on this page constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified doctor or specialist before making any decisions about medication.
The weight loss medication landscape in Australia is changing rapidly. Information on this page may become outdated without notice. Data sourced from the TGA, FDA, MHRA, NICE, PBAC, Australian Prescriber, Obesity Evidence Hub, and clinical trial publications. Last reviewed March 2026.