Semaglutide
Summary
The active substance semaglutide is a peptide and is not considered to have any environmental impact. However, Fass writes the following: Even though biomolecules, such as vaccines and hormones, are exempted they should still be regarded as biologically active.
This summary information comes from assessement reports and Fass.se
Detailde information
Assessment report for Wegovy
Assessment report for Wegovy (semaglutide), 11 November 2021, EMA/112307/2022.
"The active substance is a peptide. Therefore, semaglutide is not expected to pose a risk to the environment. [...] The active substance is a natural substance, the use of which will not alter the concentration or distribution of
the substance in the environment. Therefore, semaglutide is not expected to pose a risk to the environment."
Assessment report for Ozempic
Assessment report for Ozempic (semaglutide), 14 December 2017, EMA/CHMP/715701/2017.
"The active substance is a peptide. Therefore, semaglutide is not expected to pose a risk to the environment."
Fass environmental information
Fass environmental information for Ozempic from Novo Nordisk (downloaded 2019-10-15).
The use of amino acids, proteins and peptides is not expected to have any environmental impact.
Detalied information
According to the European Medicines Agency guideline on environmental risk assessments for pharmaceuticals (EMA/CHMP/SWP/4447/00), vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids proteins, vaccines and herbal medicinal products are exempted because they are unlikely to result in significant risk to the environment.
Even though biomolecules, such as vaccines and hormones, are exempted they should still be regarded as biologically active.
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm