Eli Lilly & Co.’s Mounjaro, a diabetes medication also approaching approval for weight loss, is poised to become available to patients in the UK following endorsement from England’s influential health-cost regulator.
“Mounjaro has the potential to “provide an effective and good value treatment option” for people with type 2 diabetes that isn’t well controlled by other drugs,” said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in an emailed statement.
The availability of Mounjaro in the UK would offer an alternative to Novo Nordisk A/S’s Ozempic, a similar diabetes medication known for its significant weight-loss benefits.
If approved for weight-loss treatment, Lilly’s drug would also compete with Novo’s anti-obesity therapy Wegovy, which recently launched in the UK on Monday. The market for weight-loss drugs alone could reach $44 billion by 2030.
“We are pleased by the NICE committee recommendation of Mounjaro for diabetes,” a Lilly spokesperson stated in an emailed response..
“Lilly is committed to providing Mounjaro for people with type 2 diabetes, both in Great Britain and globally.”
Both Novo and Lilly have faced challenges in meeting the demand for these drugs, resulting in shortages.
Ahead of the US market opening, Lilly’s shares rose by 0.3%, while Novo Nordisk’s saw a gain of 0.2% in Copenhagen.
NICE’s current recommendation contrasts with an earlier assessment that questioned whether Mounjaro offered good value for money. It is typical for the agency to reassess costly new drugs multiple times before making a recommendation.
The final guidance on Mounjaro is expected to be published on October 11, after which the weekly injection could reach National Health Service patients within 90 days, contingent on supply.
The US Food and Drug Administration is anticipated to decide on Mounjaro’s use for weight loss by the year’s end. NICE is separately evaluating its use for weight loss alongside its diabetes treatment, with a decision anticipated next year.
