Specialist NHS services to supply NICE approved weight-loss drug
A drug used to help individuals lose weight will soon be available to thousands of people through the NHS.
People can reduce their body weight by more than 10 per cent if they start taking semaglutide alongside living a healthy lifestyle.
Also known as Wegovy, semaglutide will be available for people with an BMI of above 30kg/m2, with one weight-related comorbidity and who are eligible for referral to specialist weight management services.
A weight-related comorbidity includes type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dysglycaemia, prediabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea and dyslipidaemia.
Semaglutide will be available via the NHS when the launch of the drug in England is confirmed by manufacturer Novo Nordisk.
People use the drug by injecting themselves once a week with pens pre-filled with semaglutide. It suppresses appetite by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released after eating.
Semaglutide makes people feel full quicker, causing individuals to eat less and reduce their overall calorie consumption.
Helen Knight, Director of Medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “For some people losing weight is a real challenge which is why a medicine like semaglutide is a welcome option.
“It won’t be available to everyone. Our committee has made specific recommendations to ensure it remains value for money for the taxpayer, and it can only be used for a maximum of two years.”
She added: “We are pleased to finally publish our final guidance on semaglutide which will mean some people will be able to access this much talked about drug on the NHS.”
Semaglutide can only be prescribed for a maximum of two years within a specialist weight management service providing multidisciplinary management of overweight or obesity (including but not limited to services in tiers three and four).
Clinical trial evidence shows that people lose more weight with semaglutide alongside supervised weight loss coaching than with the support alone.
Evidence from the STEP 1 clinical trial, a randomised double-blind trial, showed that participants taking semaglutide lost on average 12 per cent more of their body weight compared with placebo.
During clinical trials people reported the main side effects were gastrointestinal disorders including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.