A new diabetic treatment that is being called the "King Kong" of weight reduction injections cannot yet be approved by the National Health Service (NHS) because there is a possibility that the expense will not be justified by the potential benefits.
Even though it only recently gave its approval to a weekly injection treatment called Wegovy, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has stated that it requires additional data regarding Mounjaro. Both medicines have the effect of reducing appetite, causing users to feel full on smaller amounts of food.
In addition to this, they assist with glucose management. Because of posts on social media about people, frequently celebrities, losing significant amounts of weight, there has been a significant increase in the demand for these forms of treatment.
There has been a continuing global shortage of an additional injection for type 2 diabetes called Ozempic, which some individuals have been purchasing off-label as a weight loss assistance. The injection is intended to treat diabetes. The same medicine (semaglutide) that is found in Wegovy is contained in the pre-filled pens, but the dose is significantly reduced.
According to the draft guidelines that have been released by NICE, it has not been determined whether Mounjaro, which is also known as tirzepatide, represents good value for money when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise for adults who have type 2 diabetes and a high body mass index. As a result of the commercial sensitivity involved, the amount that the NHS pays for the pre-filled pens has not been made public.
According to Helen Knight, who works for NICE, "Type 2 diabetes is becoming more prevalent in society," which means that new treatment options are required to help people who have diabetes control the amount of glucose in their blood.Our committee recognizes that tirzepatide has potential, but it needs additional evidence before it can evaluate the drug's efficiency from a clinical and financial standpoint.
A request has been made to the manufacturer Eli Lilly to provide additional data for the committee to review before the next meeting takes place. According to NICE, the intention of this proposal in England is not to change the course of therapy with tirzepatide that was initiated by the NHS before this guidance was issued.
People who are receiving therapy that is not in line with this suggestion are allowed to keep doing so without making any adjustments, as long as they and their NHS practitioner agree that it is time to cease. Wegovy (semaglutide), on the other hand, has been given the go-ahead by the National Health Service (NHS) in England to be used on adults who have at least one obesity-related health concern, one of which can be type 2 diabetes.
Although there are now no supplies accessible, according to the prime minister of England, general practitioners in England may soon begin offering it to certain of their patients, in addition to weight management clinics that specialize in the field. Rishi Sunak described it as having the potential to be a "game-changer" while announcing a £40 million pilot program to expand access to the medicine.
