"Mounjaro: New Wave of Weight Loss Injections Emerges in the UK

 

1. 
   

2. Private Prescription Trend:

   • Doctors prescribing Eli Lilly's injectable Mounjaro privately in the UK.
   • Available for clinically obese individuals through online pharmacies.

3. Introduction of Tirzepatide (Zepbound):

   • Tirzepatide, also known as Zepbound in the U.S., part of a new wave of injectable weight loss drugs.
   • Other drugs in the market include Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy.

4. Market Impact and Availability:

   • Market response to Ozempic and Wegovy driven by celebrities and influencers.
   • Tirzepatide listed on online pharmacies, but not widely available through the public health system.

5. Mechanism and Side Effects:

   • Injectable drugs slowing down food passage through the stomach, inducing a feeling of fullness.
   • Tirzepatide's potential side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and low blood sugar in diabetes patients.

6. Regulatory Approval and Challenges:

   • UK's Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency approved tirzepatide for Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
   • Regulatory approval doesn't guarantee widespread prescription; cost-effectiveness evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

7. NICE Evaluation and Recommendations:

   • NICE evaluating tirzepatide's cost-effectiveness; recommendations expected in May.
   • Current recommendation limited to patients with difficult-to-manage diabetes; potential expansion for weight loss use.

8. Public Health Strategy:

   • UK lawmakers considering injectable weight loss drugs as a significant part of public health strategy.
   • Obesity linked to health issues; potential reduction in obesity-related diseases with increased accessibility to weight loss drugs.

9. Government Initiatives:

   • Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement of a £40 million fund for pilot programs to make weight loss drug Wegovy more accessible.
   • Aim to reduce pressure on the NHS by addressing obesity-related health conditions.

10. Future Prospects:

    • Expectations of injectable weight loss drugs becoming integral to public health interventions.
    • Anticipation of reduced obesity rates leading to lower instances of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

11. Conclusion:

    • The emerging trend of injectable weight loss drugs in the UK.
    • Balancing private prescriptions with the potential for widespread public health impact pending NICE recommendations and government initiatives.