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Novo Nordisk, the Danish drug manufacturer, has launched Wegovy, a weight-loss drug, in the UK market. This semaglutide injection will be available through specialist NHS weight management services for those who meet the National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) criteria or privately through registered healthcare professionals. Novo Nordisk allocated a portion of the available supply of Wegovy for NHS services, while confirming the existing shortage of semaglutide and projecting continued constraints in the foreseeable future. The drug can be obtained through the NHS and is additionally accessible for private purchase at pharmacies in the UK. The pricing for a one-month supply varies, ranging from £73.25 to £175.80, depending on the dosage. "We are committed to expanding treatment options for individuals with obesity and share the Government's goal of improving access to obesity care in areas of high unmet medical need," the company said in a statement. "We are closely monitoring Wegovy demand and collaborating with regulators and providers to ensure access to and continuity of treatment for people living with obesity."

With Novo Nordisk's patent protection for liraglutide now expired, the UK is set to welcome the first wave of generic weight loss medicines. The British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), the trade body for off-patent medicines, believes these generic versions could "provide could provide much-needed capacity to meet growing demand and alleviate shortages." Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Novo Nordisk markets liraglutide under the brand names Victoza (for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda (for weight loss). In a statement released on 20 November 2024, the BGMA confirmed that "liraglutide's patent protection was no longer in force, marking the first time generic versions of diabetes and weight loss treatments can be available in the UK." The BGMA anticipates that at least four companies will obtain UK marketing authorisations for generics targeting type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, it remains uncertain how many will launch immediately.

The MHRA on Wednesday granted a license for Eli Lilly's new Alzheimer's treatment, donanemab, for use in adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. However, the drug will not be available on the NHS, as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded that it "does not currently demonstrate value for the NHS." The health spending watchdog explained that the costs of providing donanemab, including regular infusions and intensive monitoring for serious side effects, outweigh the relatively small benefits it offers to patients, and so it "cannot currently be considered good value for the taxpayer." Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "For NICE to be able to approve a medicine for use in the NHS it must provide additional benefits to patients, and it must also represent a good use of NHS resources and taxpayers' money. Donanemab (also called Kisunla) is a monoclonal antibody drug given by infusion (through a drip in the arm). It targets and reduces beta-amyloid proteins, whose abnormal buildup is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Kent and Medway prescribe the highest number of semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepeptide - drugs that are commonly used for treating type 2 diabetes, weight loss, or both - in the UK, according to recent research by Click Pharmacy. Called GLP-1 agonists, these drugs mimic the effects of the GLP-1 hormone, which is released by the body after eating. This hormone slows digestion, stimulates insulin release, and inhibits glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, making GLP-1 agonists effective treatments for diabetes and weight management. The online pharmacy's research reveals that Kent and Medway prescribed the most of these drugs in the month of June 2024, with 6,326 prescriptions. Other NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) with high prescription rates included: Black Country and West Birmingham (5,019) Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight (4,960) Birmingham and Solihull (4,775) North Central London (4,528) North East London (3,557) North West London (3,498) Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (2,973) Coventry and Warwickshire (2,912) Norfolk and Waveny (2,575) Brighton and Hove topped the list for prescribing Wegovy, a weight-loss drug containing semaglutide, with 35 prescriptions made out in June alone.

Amid the rapid rise in semaglutide usage, a study has suggested a potential risk of a rare eye condition associated with the weight loss drug. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is available under the brand name Ozempic (by Novo Nordisk) in a lower-dose form for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and as Wegovy (also by Novo Nordisk) in a higher-dose form for weight management in patients with high body mass indexes. Anecdotal evidence has indicated that semaglutide might be linked to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). To investigate this potential connection, researchers in the United States analysed data over a six-year period from nearly 17,000 neuro-ophthalmology patients at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, all of whom had no prior history of NAION.

Rachna Chhatralia, superintendent pharmacist at Day Lewis, has suggested that obesity should be a key focus area of the upcoming 10-year health plan. She advocated for a weight loss service to be commissioned through community pharmacies to address this growing public health issue effectively. "Obesity is a big problem in the UK, and it has progressively worsened as a result of COVID, with people being at home, unable to access gyms, and developing unhealthy eating habits," Rachna told Pharmacy Business. Rachna, the winner of the Pharmacy Business' Aspiring Pharmacy Leader of the Year, emphasised the urgent need to tackle obesity as it can lead to other long-term conditions in the long run and cost the NHS a lot of money. "If you don't try and tackle the obesity rate, you're then looking at treatment for other comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues, including heart attack and strokes. It just spirals out of control," she explained.

Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk said on Tuesday (Aug 8) a large study had shown the highly effective obesity treatment also had a clear cardiovascular benefit, boosting the Danish company's hopes of moving beyond its image as a lifestyle drug. The increasingly popular Wegovy has transformed the weight-loss market since its U.S. launch in June 2021, capturing the attention of patients, investors and celebrities worldwide. Novo's news lifted shares in Europe's second-most valuable listed company after LVMH by more than 17 per cent to record highs. They have now surged almost 165 per cent over the past two years. The results of the late-stage trial may help persuade insurers in the U.S. and cost-conscious health authorities in Europe to cover the cost of Wegovy, which is $1,300 a month in the United States, for a wider range of patients. U.S. law classifies weight-loss treatments as lifestyle drugs and bars the Medicare health plan for older Americans from covering them and experts said the new data could lead the U.S. government to reassess that.

A diabetes medicine, Mounjaro, has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to treat overweight patients. The weight loss medication originally developed for Type 2 diabetes is now accessible to individuals aged 18 and over who are dealing with obesity and weight-related health issues. The active ingredient, tirzepatide, works by making the patient feel fuller and reducing food cravings. The injection helps individuals lose 20 per cent of their body weight, and are advised to follow a reduced-calorie diet and increase physical activity simultaneously. Although it is not authorised to use on the NHS as yet but future approvals can be predicted.