Weak demand for weight loss tablets in German pharmacies one month after market launch

One month after the weight loss tablet was launched on the market in German pharmacies, few people are apparently taking up the new offer. "The first feedback from the pharmacies shows that the demand for the new, so-called weight loss tablets is not yet that great," said the President of the Federal Association of German Pharmacists' Associations (ABDA), Thomas Preis, to the dpa news agency.

The initially weak demand was to be expected, said Preis, because many patients were already prepared for the injection. “If there is a change, it will be done by the doctor and that will only happen gradually.”

According to the price, the syringe has several decisive advantages: In contrast to the daily tablet, it only has to be used once a week. When it comes to tablets, patients also have to pay close attention to how they take them. You should not eat anything eight hours beforehand and you should not consume food or liquid immediately afterwards.

"Some people who are well-adjusted to an injection are already thinking about whether they want to take a tablet every day with these exact dosage rules or whether they would rather take an injection once a week," said the ABDA president. "I think the tablet is a good alternative for those who really don't want to inject or have a phobia of injections."

Debate about cost coverage by health insurance companies

The Wegovy tablet with the active ingredient semaglutide has been available in German pharmacies since September 1, 2026. The drug is approved for people who are obese or overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbidity.

Depending on the dosage form and dosage, the costs are a few hundred euros per month. So far, they are only covered by health insurance companies for people with type 2 diabetes. Otherwise, weight loss products in Germany are considered so-called lifestyle medicines and are not covered by health insurance.

However, there is discussion about covering the costs for certain patient groups: The new chairwoman of the Federal Joint Committee, which decides which services are paid for by those with statutory health insurance, had shown herself open to covering the costs. The head of the AOK health insurance company, however, had warned that the costs for statutory health insurance were too high.