You may have seen media coverage about a new drug which is expected to be made available to a limited number of patients over the coming year.
We now have more details from NHS England and NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) about who can get this medicine, and when it will be available.
NHS England has shared who can get Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) to start with. It will be given in different stages, starting with people who are most in need.
In Phase 1, only people with serious health conditions will be able to get it on the NHS. This is the same everywhere in England.
To get Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®), you must:
Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, and
Have at least four of the following health problems:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol or fat levels in your blood
Sleep apnoea (trouble breathing while sleeping)
Heart disease
Type 2 diabetes