What is the semaglutide weight loss drug and can you buy it in the UK?
A ‘GAME changing’ weight loss drug is set to be offered to tens of thousands of Brits on the NHS.
Wegovy, which contains the drug semglutide, will be offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment.
The drug, which has been hailed as “brilliant” could be available for as little as £9.35 to eligible patients.
Previously, it has only been dished out privately to the rich and famous, and is rumoured to have been used by celebs like Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a drug originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, which was sold under the name Ozempic.
But patients started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and aiding them shed the pounds.
Now, Danish firm Novo Nordisk has developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but is given at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss.
How effective is it?
Studies have shown Wegovy can help a third of patients lose up to a third of their body weight.
Research found that people who are given the drug saw their weight drop by 12 per cent on average after 68 weeks.
Dr Zoe Watson, GP and founder of , told The Sun: “It’s a brilliant drug, and one of the most exciting non-surgical advancements in obesity medicine in recent years.
“It could be potentially life changing for those who are obese or overweight.”
Professor Nick Finer, of University College London, said: “Semaglutide is a true game changer for the medical treatment of obesity, a chronic disease that shortens life through its many complications.”
But other experts have warned it won’t fix obesity if patients don’t also pay attention to how much they exercise and what they eat.
Telly GP Dr Sarah Jarvis told The Sun: “This is not a magic bullet. It won’t work if patients don’t also look at diet and exercise.
“I’ve had patients that have taken drugs like this and have found that as they lose weight, it gets easier to exercise. It can be the push in the right direction they need.”
Professor Jane Ogden, of the University of Surrey, said: “This drug shows promise as a useful addition to the existing tool kit for weight management.
“But it’s no magic pill and will still require professional support, dietary change and activity as well as close monitoring of side effects.
“And what we still need are interventions to enable weight loss that is maintained in the longer term.”
How does it work?
The weekly injection works by suppressing the appetite – mimicking a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is usually released after eating.
As a result patients feel fuller for longer, and reduce the number of calories they eat.
What are the side effects?
Side effects can include sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Other rare complications include gallbladder problems, kidney failure, serious allergic reaction and depression.
A study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found nausea and diarrhoea were the most common side-effects.
But these were “typically transient and mild-to-moderate in severity and subsided with time”, researchers said.
Is it safe?
Alongside the side effects, some charities have warned the drug could be dangerous for people at risk of developing disorders.
Tony Quinn, of Beat, said: “Weight-loss medications like semaglutide can be extremely attractive to people with eating disorders as they appear to provide quick results.
“However, these medications can be very dangerous as they can worsen harmful thoughts and behaviours for those unwell, or contribute to an eating disorder developing for someone who is already vulnerable.
“It’s crucial that an eating disorder screening is carried out for every individual and that people with eating disorders are not able to access a prescription.
“There must also be more education about the dangers of using medication to lose weight.”
Who is eligible for it on the NHS?
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidance says the drug will only be offered to obese adults with at least one weight-related condition and a BMI of at least 35.
The weight-related conditions include type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, high blood pressure, unbalanced or unhealthy cholesterol levels, obstructive sleep apnoea and heart disease.
In some cases, people with a BMI of 30 and over may be able to access the drug, which is given via a pen injector.
People will only be given Wegovy on prescription as part of a specialist weight management service involving input from several professionals, and for a maximum of two years.
Where else could I get it?
Boots and other pharmacies are set to offer Wegovy at stores and online once it becomes commercially available.
Patients not eligible on the NHS who have a BMI of over 30 but not an obesity-related condition will be able to get the drug, once given a pharmacist’s approval.
Others with a BMI of over 27 and with a condition may also be eligible.
Meanwhile, Ozempic for weight loss has also been available off-label for private patients for years — but could set you back at least £130.
How long can I take it for?
Wegovy will only be prescribed for a maximum of two years, the Nice guidelines state.
This is because long-term safety data is not yet available, although studies are underway.
Over the course of these two years, the initial quick weight loss will begin to slow, Professor Jason Halford, of the University of Leeds, said.
The body adapts to the hormone signal, leading to a period
When patients come off the drug completely, they are likely to put weight back on quickly because they are no longer getting the signal to the brain, he said.
In future, this might mean some patients may have to take the drug for as long as they are obese, in a similar way to how statins are prescribed, he said.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “The problem is obesity is a chronic, relapsing, lifelong problem, so you need to be managing obesity across their lifecourse.
“If this is safe to do so, for some people who cannot lose weight and keep that weight off by other means, it might mean that.”