What has SMC said?
Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted tirzepatide for restricted use in NHSScotland. It is accepted for use alongside diet and exercise for weight management in adults who:
- are obese (have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more; a lower BMI may be used for members of ethnic minority groups known to be at similar risk of complications of obesity at a lower BMI than the white population), and
- have at least one weight-related health condition, such as: type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes (where blood sugar levels are too high but not high enough to be called diabetes), high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (when there is an unhealthy level of fat in the blood) or sleep apnoea (breathing interruptions during sleep).
This document summarises the SMC decision and what it means for patients.
You can find more detailed information about the SMC assessment of tirzepatide by looking at the SMC Detailed Advice Document (SMC2653).
What does SMC’s decision mean for patients?
Tirzepatide for use as described above is available for prescribing on the NHS in Scotland. Your healthcare professional can discuss with you if it is the right treatment for you.
You can find more information about making decisions about your treatment in this booklet called: Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment for me?
How does SMC make its decision?
SMC carefully considers every new medicine to make sure it benefits patients and is likely to be a good use of NHS resources.
To do this SMC studies the following:
- Evidence from the company about how well the medicine works compared with current treatments available in Scotland, in relation to how much they will cost to buy and use to treat patients.
- Information from patient groups about the potential impact of the medicine on patients and carers.
- Advice from healthcare professionals about any benefits of the new medicine compared to current treatment, along with how the new medicine is likely to be used.
When SMC assesses a medicine it takes account of the needs of all patients in NHSScotland, not only those who may be treated with the medicine.
You can find out more about how SMC decides here: htps://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/how-we-decide/
More information and support
The organisation below can provide more information and support for people who are living with obesity and their families. SMC is not responsible for the content of any information provided by external organisations.
All About Obesity
You can find out more about tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) by searching for the medicine name on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website.