Weight-loss implant could one day replace Ozempic injections
(NewsNation) — A small device implanted under the skin may one day replace weight-loss injections.
Novo Nordisk, maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, is working with California-based biotech company Vivani Medical to test a small implant This releases semaglutide (the same drug used in injections) slowly over several months. The partnership was announced this week.
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How does the implant work?
The matchstick-sized implant is placed just under the skin, usually in the upper arm, during a brief office procedure similar to insertion of a birth control implant. The device then slowly releases the medicine into the body.
Vivani says the version currently being tested needs to be replaced every six months, but the company hopes to eventually increase that period to once a year.
The implant is not expected to be on the market for at least several years. It must first complete clinical trials and receive regulatory approval before it can be prescribed.
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