Weight-loss jab Wegovy is now out there to NHS sufferers – however solely via specialist weight administration companies.
The weekly injection has been hailed as a marvel drug by these desirous to shed weight, from celebrities to weight problems sufferers.
The NHS rollout of the drug will likely be restricted to individuals needing medical assist to drop some pounds.
Only sufferers with a BMI over 30, or greater than 27 with one weight-related comorbidity, will have the ability to entry the drug.
The drug, also referred to as semaglutide, will likely be prescribed alongside a decreased calorie weight-reduction plan and train from September 4.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide one) to handle starvation and decelerate digestion.
It can also be the energetic ingredient in Ozempic, which was the primary of the burden loss jabs to explode on TikTok.
Read extra:
Ozempic to Wegovy: advantages and drawbacks
Wegovy provide points as non-public clinics stockpile
The National Institute for Care and Excellence (Nice) gave Wegovy the inexperienced gentle for NHS use earlier this 12 months.
Its steering mentioned it must be used for a most of two years.
About 50,000 NHS sufferers in England could possibly be prescribed Wegovy, an NHS spokesperson mentioned.
But the drug is in brief provide.
Wegovy producer Novo Nordisk mentioned it expects provide “to be constrained for the foreseeable future”.
A “proportion of available supply” has been allotted to NHS companies.
“We will continue to work with healthcare professionals to help ensure that patients with the highest unmet medical need are prioritised,” the corporate mentioned.
The drug may also be out there privately, however the producer has not disclosed how a lot this may value.
In the US, the drug sells for as a lot as $1,350 (£1,070) a month.
The NHS has additionally been urged to make use of digital platforms to prescribe weight reduction medication in future.
In draft pointers, NICE really helpful the usage of 4 on-line platforms that enable specialists to offer digital care to weight problems sufferers, saying face-to-face settings had been unable to satisfy demand.
Source: information.sky.com”