A second weight loss injection has been recommended to help thousands of obese people lose weight on the NHS. Mounjaro will be given to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 with at least one obesity-related condition, such as diabetes. A lower BMI threshold – usually reduced by 2.
5kg (5.5lb) – may be used for people from Asian, South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds. Subject to final guidance, the once-weekly jab should be prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has said.
Mounjaro – also known as tirzepatide and made by Eli Lilly – is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, a family of medications that help manage blood sugar. Other GLP-1 agonists include semaglutide – sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic – which have suffered supply issues amid soaring demand for the new class of treatments. Independent obesity experts believe patients in England and Wales should find it easier to access Mounjaro as they will not have to be on a specialist NHS weight management service to have it prescribed, unlike Wegovy.
In September, Nice recommended Mounjaro as an option for type 2 diabetics who could not tolerate metformin. It has now issued draft guidance saying the drug should also be an option to help people manage obesity. The Nice guidance said Eli Lilly proposes that the drug should be available to those with a BMI of 30 w.
