Diabetes drug tirzepatide recommended to treat obesity on the NHS

Getty/Deepak Verma

By Storm Newton, PA Media

The type 2 diabetes drug Mounjaro has been recommended to help obese people lose weight on the NHS.

Mounjaro – also known as tirzepatide and made by Eli Lilly – is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist.

Other GLP-1 agonists include semaglutide – sold under the brand names Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus.

In September, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 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It has now issued draft guidance saying the drug should also be an option to help people manage obesity.

It comes after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised Mounjaro to be used to help obese adults with weight loss in November.

Subject to final guidance, the once-weekly jab will be recommended for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 with at least one obesity-related condition. It should be prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, NICE said.