Millions Will Have Long Wait For Obesity Jab, NHS Warns

Fewer than 10 per cent of patients in England who are eligible for what has been dubbed the "King Kong of weight loss drugs" will initially be able to access it on the health service.

- REBECCA THOMAS & STORM NEWTON

Health officials revealed yesterday they are prioritising the drug for people with the highest needs.

The “difficult decision” was made “in order to protect other vital NHS services”, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said.

The NHS spending watchdog has recommended Mounjaro – also known as tirzepatide and made by Eli Lilly – for those with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 and at least one weight-related illness. This is estimated to account for about 3.4 million people.

To help the NHS manage demand, Nice said about 220,000 people could benefit from the drug in an initial three-year period. After this, the situation will be reviewed by Nice, who will provide further guidance on the rollout.

Mounjaro is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, a family of medications that help manage blood sugar.