The Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia (POSAA) is calling for GLP-1 drugs to be approved on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for people living with PCOS. Advocates say women with the condition should have access to subsidised weight loss medications.
PCOS, previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome, affects one in eight women. Symptoms can include irregular periods, excess hair growth on the body and face, weight gain, and thinning hair. It is a lifelong condition with no cure, and can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer.
GLP-1 drugs are not specifically approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for the treatment of PCOS, but are prescribed to patients off-label. A study by the University of New South Wales in July estimated that half a million Australians are regularly using weight loss drugs.
POSAA spokesperson Lorna Berry, who was diagnosed with PCOS at 32, said she would welcome the subsidising of GLP-1 drugs for patients diagnosed with PCOS, alongside funding for evidence-based research. She highlighted the importance of access to medication regardless of where a person lives or was born, stressing that equitable access is key. Berry added that some women with PCOS are currently missing out on access to these drugs due to their high cost, which can cost patients several hundred dollars a month.
Professor Emerita Magdalena Simonis, spokesperson for women’s health at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, stated that the college currently has no position on whether GLP-1 drugs are appropriate for the treatment of PCOS. She noted that long-term use of GLP-1 drugs is expensive and that it does not appear they will soon be listed on the PBS, nor may they ever be for conditions such as PCOS. Simonis, who is also a general practitioner with a special interest in PCOS, stated that women’s health conditions have traditionally not been included in such changes. She added that if studies show weight loss drugs are more effective than existing treatments, a broader discussion on equity in healthcare would be needed.
GLP-1 drugs, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, mimic the natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite. Ozempic is listed on the PBS, but only for the treatment of diabetes. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee last November recommended the subsidising of Wegovy for people with a body mass index above 35. The committee will meet next month to consider a revised proposal from Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk for the listing of Wegovy for obesity following long-standing negotiations.
Novo Nordisk produces both Ozempic and Wegovy. Both drugs contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but Wegovy has a higher dose. A spokesperson for the company stated that the company is continuing to work constructively with the Department of Health to try to negotiate a solution for the listing of Wegovy on the PBS, and remains committed to improving access for eligible Australians living with obesity.
