Weight management

Further details on how to access these medicines can be found on the ICS website, under the ‘Weight loss medication’ section of the Weight Management page:

Weight management: Kent & Medway ICS

Saxenda (liraglutide), see NICE TA664, is for specialist prescribing only when used for weight management in line with the NICE TA.

**Saxenda has been affected by the national supply issues of GLP-1 RAs. Until the supply chain is restored, no referrals onto the Saxenda pathway will be accepted by the Tier 3 provider.**

Wegovy (semaglutide), see NICE TA875, is for specialist prescribing only when used for weight management in line with the NICE TA. These are only available via specialist weight management services - please see here for further information.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro), see NICE TA 1026, is commissioned for use in NHS England Cohort 1 patients only and may be prescribed in General Practices commissioned to provide Tirzepatide for managing weight loss.

Cohort 1 patients are defined as adults registered with an NHS GP who meet all of the following criteria:

• BMI ≥ 40 kg/m² (or ≥ 37.5 kg/m² for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds due to higher risk).
• Presence of at least four qualifying comorbidities: hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Mandatory engagement with the structured weight loss programme.

Liraglutide and semaglutide should be prescribed by brand as the different brands have different indications (see under drug below).

Some biosimilar brands of liraglutide are licensed in the UK for weight management/obesity only, and are for prescribing only from specialist weight management services when used in line with the following NICE TA.