NHSE proposes offering Mounjaro to nearly 250,000 people over three years
NICE has opened a consultation on the possible mass rollout of tirzepatide to millions of people in England over the next decade.
NHS England (NHSE) is proposing to offer weight loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to millions of people over the next decade, according to a consultation published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) yesterday (October 3).
According to the implementation proposal, after a 180-day period of implementation, the NHS would offer tirzepatide to 233,000 people, split into three cohorts of patients over three years.
But having created the “capacity to deliver”, the NHS would then increase access to tirzepatide, targeting a total 1.6m people at the end of twelve years, according to the proposal.
Read more: Opinion: Influencers offering discounts on weight-loss jabs must stop
NICE chief executive Dr Sam Roberts said that its independent committee had found that tirzepatide was “both effective and good value for money” that would “substantially reduce” the risk of people developing “serious health-related problems associated with obesity”.
Roberts said that “a phased roll out is required” owing to the “very large” number of people who could qualify for the programme.
The first years will see the NHS test “a variety of new services” for patients who it thinks will get “the greatest clinical benefit”, to find the “most appropriate and cost effective” model before an expanded rollout.
Read more: Weight loss: Superdrug expands online Mounjaro service to high street
According to the consultation document, “a range of community-based services and digital technologies” will be tested.
The initial cohorts would target people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 (“adjusted for ethnic differences”), and who have two to three qualifying comorbidities.
People would qualify for inclusion in later cohorts if their BMI is more than 35 and if they have qualifying comorbidities.
NICE said that the consultation would be open for three weeks with “final guidance on tirzepatide and obesity” due to be published “later in the year”.
It is unclear if community pharmacies will play a part in the tirzepatide roll out.
More on Mounjaro
In February, Superdrug and pharmacy service provider Pharmadoctor announced that they would offer tirzepatide privately, after the drug was authorised for weight loss use in November 2023 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
And in June Superdrug announced that it would be expanding its tirzepatide service to high street pharmacies across the UK.
And in August a C+D investigation focusing on TikTok found online pharmacies were offering discount codes for weight loss drug Mounjaro, with one TikToker telling followers to “order Mounjaro” from online pharmacy Habitual.
