A weight-loss jab described as 'triple-strength' has been given the greenlight by NHS watchdogs, meaning it could soon become an option for patients.
Originally developed as a medication to help people manage diabetes, GLP-1 and GIP drugs have become a game-changer for people who've previously struggled to lose weight.
According to statistics shared by The Telegraph, it's currently estimated that 200,000 people have been prescribed weight-loss drugs such as Mounjaro or Wegovy, while at least another two million may be purchasing them privately.
And now a 'triple-strength' version of the jab could soon be available to patients.
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Following a series of clinical trials, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now approved a stronger dose for patients who struggle to lose weight at lower doses.
Confirmed by the NHS watchdog last week, patients with a BMI of 30 or higher will soon be able to access a once-a-week 7.2mg dose of semaglutide, delivered in three separate doses.
This would be three times as much as the current weekly dose, which stands at 2.4mg.
The decision follows a STEP UP clinical trial which found that participants were on average able to achieve a 20.7 percent weight loss when using the new dose alongside a healthy diet and exercise.
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Meanwhile, a third of patients were able to lose 25 percent or more of their body weight after 72 weeks when compared to the groups taking the placebo and lower 2.4mg dose.
Reported side effects included nausea and stomach upsets occurring during the dosage increase.
MHRA guidance adds that qualifying patients would be able to access the higher dose after a minimum of four weeks on 2.4 mg.
The study will now need to pass a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) review before getting the final go-ahead, which means patients will have to wait a little longer before it's available for prescription.
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The findings come as Wegovy manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, applied for the approval of a single 7.2mg dose injection, which would save patients from having to inject themselves three times. Current MHRA guidance recommends that each dose be administered to the same body part but 5cm apart and with a separate needle.
"This approval represents another important step in Novo Nordisk supporting people living with obesity to achieve meaningful and significant weight loss," Sebnem Avsar Tuna, the general manager at Novo Nordisk UK, said in a statement about the news.
"The addition of a new dose of semaglutide provides healthcare professionals with greater flexibility to tailor treatment for people living with obesity, supporting evidence-based approaches to improve health outcomes."
Brenna Cooper