Semaglutide (Wegovy) has been approved for Weight Loss

You may have heard that Semaglutide (Wegovy) has been approved for Weight Loss by NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence). The local referral pathway has yet to be developed but it is likely to be within the existing bariatrics service or another commissioned service.

The criteria will be in keeping with the NICE recommendations:

• The use of Semaglutide, also called Wegovy BRAND alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
• Wegovy be prescribed to people who have a particular BMI (usually 30kg/m2 and over) and at least one weight-related health condition - (dysglycaemia (prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidemia (in which disturbances in fat metabolism lead to changes in the concentrations of lipids in the blood), obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease
• The guidance requires the NHS in England to implement the NICE recommendations within 3 months of the product becoming commercially available.
• Semaglutide (Wegovy) can only be prescribed for a maximum of two years within a specialist weight management service providing multidisciplinary management of overweight or obesity - not to be prescribed by GP's

 Please note: Semaglutide is also licensed under the brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus, which are recommended by NICE and available on the NHS for managing blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

We will keep you posted with further developments/updates.

Published: Mar 13, 2023