semaglutide (Ozempic)

following a full submission:

semaglutide (Ozempic®) is accepted for restricted use within NHSScotland.

Indication under review: the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as an adjunct to diet and exercise:

• As monotherapy when metformin is considered inappropriate due to intolerance or contraindications
• In addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes.

SMC restriction: In addition to other oral anti-diabetic medicines, or as an add-on to basal insulin, as an alternative glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist option.

In five randomised comparative studies in patients with T2DMand receiving oral anti-diabetic agents and / or basal insulin, semaglutide once weekly was superior to the comparators for change in HbA1c.

SMC cannot recommend the use of semaglutide as monotherapy when metformin is considered inappropriate due to intolerance or contraindications as the company’s submission related only to its use in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes.