UK to Launch Pilot Project of Wegovy Weight Loss Drug

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Facts

  • The UK is planning to launch a two-year, £40M pilot program that would give more Britons access to the Wegovy weight loss drug through the National Health Service (NHS), amid ongoing concerns over its supply and potential public health benefits.1
  • PM Rishi Sunak has called the drug a "game-changer" which will help alleviate the "huge pressure" obesity — which costs the UK approximately £6.5B a year — places on the NHS. Estimates suggest that at least 12M adults in England are obese.2
  • The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved the drug for use in adults with a body mass index of over 35 and who suffer other weight-related conditions. Delivered via weekly injections, the drug suppresses appetite by mimicking the hormone released after eating.3
  • However, the UK doesn't currently have access to supplies of the drug, and healthcare observers have cautioned the government to procure appropriate supply before expanding access. There is also concern that a surge in demand for Wegovy, originally a diabetes drug, could put diabetic patients at risk.2
  • Side effects of Wegovy, also called semaglutide, include nausea, constipation, and dizziness. Clinical trials also suggest that many users regain weight once they've stopped treatment, which is recommended to not extend beyond two years.4
  • The drug is currently only available to around 35K Britons who qualify for hospital weight-management programs, but the expansion is also looking to allow family doctors to prescribe the treatment.2

Sources: 1Reuters, 2BBC News, 3Sky News, and 4Independent.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Conversation. Obesity is a global public health crisis, and modern medicine has given us an indispensable tool in this fight. Clinical results for the drug suggest patients could lose up to 20% of their body weight. Reducing the costs of the drug and making it more accessible could ease the massive cost obesity places on our healthcare system and save many lives. The UK is taking a big step forward in putting weight loss within reach for Britons.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Reuters. Drugs like Wegovy are crucial for diabetics and those with severe obesity. However, governments and media are wrong to tout these drugs as miracle cures for weight loss. Long-term impacts are unknown, and research suggests a patient will need to stay on them for a lifetime to maintain a healthy weight. It is reckless to expand the coverage of this drug, as it will cause healthcare costs to balloon and put the patients who need it most at risk.

Predictions