Thousands of people will now be able to receive a novel weight-reduction injection in the UK, after the medicines watchdog became the first major regulator to greenlight the drug in a more convenient device.
The medication, also known as tirzepatide, was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) late last year for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
However, due to high demand worldwide, the medication has not yet been made available.
Eli Lilly claimed that the approval of a new delivery method, a four-dose pen marketed as KwikPen that covers a month's worth of medication, will mean it will start shipping to the UK in a matter of weeks.
The MHRA revealed the availability of this substitute for the Danish business Novo Nordisk's weight-loss medication Wegovy, which is marketed as semaglutide, on January 25.
Tens of thousands of NHS patients have received it, but only a small portion of those who are entitled to receive it have been able to do so due to worldwide shortages.
But what is mounjaro?
What is Mounjaro?
For adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Mounjaro is a prescription injectable medication that is used in conjunction with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar, or glucose.
Mounjaro may be used to treat obese individuals with a body mass index greater than 30 as well.
Additionally, if a patient has pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or cardiac issues in addition to another weight-related ailment, it will be made available to some overweight individuals with a BMI of between 27 and 30.
Does Mounjaro have side-effects?
The most frequent side-effects, according to the MHRA, are vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and nausea. Serious adverse effects from Mounjaro may include pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.
The usage of Mounjaro in patients with pancreatitis, or in children, is unknown. However, is is unsuitable for those with type 1 diabetes.
