What’s the new weight loss pill (and how to get it in Germany)?

Losing weight is a challenge for many people, and medicines can sometimes help. By now, almost everyone has heard of weight loss injections, such as Wegovy or Ozempic (which isn't technically approved for weight loss). However, it's important to be aware that there are other options as well. Including weight loss pills such as Mysimba (naltrexone/bupropion), which targets the brain’s appetite and reward centers.

In addition to Mysimba, there are also other weight loss pills in development. They may open up more treatment options for you in the future. To help you understand all your options, let's look at the newest weight loss pills and their availability in Germany.

Mysimba: A weight loss pill for emotional eating

Semaglutide-based medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound work at the level of metabolism. For example, by slowing digestion and prolonging the sense of fullness. Mysimba (naltrexone/bupropion) is a weight loss pill that works differently. It targets the brain's reward and appetite centers to help reduce cravings and emotional eating.

Mysimba contains two active ingredients:

• Bupropion, which affects dopamine levels and reduces the urge to eat for comfort.
• Naltrexone, which blocks certain brain receptors that reinforce food-seeking behavior and pleasure from eating.

By influencing these brain pathways, Mysimba helps people gain better control over their eating habits. This enables them to reduce calorie intake and develop healthier eating patterns. This approach makes Mysimba especially suitable for people whose weight gain is driven by cravings, emotional eating, or compulsive overeating behavior, rather than metabolic issues.

Similar to all other weight loss medicines, Mysimba is always prescribed alongside lifestyle changes, such as exercising and a special diet ¹.

Amycretin: A weight loss pill in development

In addition to Mysimba, which is already available in Germany, there are other weight loss pills in development. One that has generated some excitement is Amycretin - a pill that activates receptors of both the amylin and GLP-1 hormones.

Phase 1 clinical trial results have shown some potential for Amycretin as a weight loss medicine. However, it should be noted that the pill is still in early development stages ². It can be years until enough clinical trial data is available to consider potential approval of the medicine.

Weight loss pills or injections: What's the difference?

The main difference between current weight loss medicines such as Mysimba and semaglutide-based alternatives is in their mechanism of action. Whether they are pills or injections is a less important difference. That's a factor related more to the patient's preference rather than the medicine's efficacy or applicability.

This being said, some patients may have an aversion to needles. In such cases, having an oral tablet as an alternative can help with adhering to the treatment in the long run.

Overall, your doctor is going to prescribe the medicine which best applies for your type of obesity, rather than choosing based on the mode of administration. Factors your doctor will take into account include:

• Whether your biggest challenge with weight loss is metabolic or behavioral (i.e. emotional eating or food cravings);
• Whether you have related conditions (e.g. diabetes) or a medical history that prohibits the use of some weight loss medicines;
• Whether you are susceptible to one of the possible side effects that any weight loss pill comes with.

Can you get the weight loss pill Mysimba in Germany?

If your doctor recommends Mysimba for you, the good news is that it is available in Germany. It has been approved by the EMA since 2015. However, you won’t find it in regular pharmacies—at the moment, Mysimba can only be obtained online.

If you have a prescription and would like help with accessing Mysimba in Germany, simply request the medicine below. Our team will be happy to assist you.

Request Mysimba