NHS to Roll Out Weight-Loss Drug as Part of a Three-Year Plan
The National Health Service (NHS) in England is set to offer Eli Lilly’s (LLY.N) groundbreaking weight-loss drug, Mounjaro (known as Zepbound in the U.S.), to nearly a quarter of a million people over the next three years.
This initiative is part of a strategic plan aimed at tackling obesity and its associated health conditions, as announced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Initially, the drug will be made available to individuals who are obese and suffer from at least three significant weight-related health conditions, including hypertension, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disorders, and elevated lipid levels such as cholesterol.
The phased rollout will then expand, offering the drug to people with two conditions and later to those with just one, providing a broader reach to those affected by obesity-related health issues.
The NHS has applied to NICE for the phased introduction of Mounjaro, and the rollout will be accompanied by the development and testing of new services. Digital technologies are among the solutions being trialed to deliver the drug to patients in a cost-effective manner.
Alongside the drug, the NHS plans to offer a comprehensive support package, including diet and exercise assistance, available through both primary and secondary care clinics.
However, implementing such a wide-ranging plan poses challenges for the NHS. It will be difficult to provide the level of wraparound care seen in patients who took part in the clinical trial, commented a physiology lecturer from Anglia Ruskin University, highlighting the complexity of replicating the trial’s results on a national scale.
What’s more, this sentiment echoes concerns about the logistical demands of offering such holistic care to the larger population.
Currently, 64% of adults in England are either overweight or living with obesity, according to national surveys. Addressing this issue is a key priority for the NHS, especially in the wake of Novo Nordisk‘s weight-loss drug, Wegovy, which was introduced in the UK last year.
Wegovy was also recently approved to reduce the risk of heart problems or strokes in overweight and obese adults. The NHS currently offers Wegovy through specialist weight management services, but the introduction of Mounjaro aims to further bolster efforts to combat obesity across the country.
In conclusion, the NHS’s decision to introduce Mounjaro is a significant step forward in the fight against obesity. While the plan’s success will depend on the effective integration of wraparound care and digital delivery systems, the phased rollout of this new treatment offers hope to many struggling with weight-related health conditions.
If successful, this initiative could pave the way for future treatments that provide not only weight loss but also comprehensive health improvements for millions of people across England.
News Credits: England’s NHS to offer Lilly’s weight-loss drug to some patients
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