The UK subsidizes the same drugs such as Ozempic for weight loss. Can Australia follow?

People with high weight in the UK Now you can access subsidy Weight loss drug To treat their obesity. This includes Wegovy (Ozempic’s weight loss capacity or semaglutide) and Mounjaro (one of the brand names of Tirzepatide).

This drug, known as GLP-1 agent, can be done. Improve your health Those who are overweight or obese, reduce weight and use other approaches.

Government in Australia Auxiliary costs Semaglutide (ozempic) for diabetics.

However, we have not yet paid subsidies to Semaglutide (Wegovy) for the PBS for weight loss.

This is despite the Australian regulatory agency. GLP-1 agent approval If you are overweight with people with obesity and more than one weight.

This gives birth to Australians who use Wegovy to lose weight. About $ 450–500 a month.

But can Australia list the lead in the UK and list drugs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro to PBS for weight loss? That way, the price can be imported Below $ 31.60 ($ 7.70 concession).

Australia has already destroyed Wegovy for subsidies.

The Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee (PBAC) reviews the submissions that allows the submission company to assist the drug therapy through PBS.

For these recommendations, PBAC posts a public document that summarizes the reason why the drug should be added to the PBS and the recommendation of the recommendation.

In November 2023, PBAC was reviewed Submission of Novo Nordis. Adults with initial BMI were 40 or higher, including Semaglutide for PBS and at least two weight -related conditions. One or more of these relevant conditions had to be before closure sleep apnea, knee osteoarthritis or diabetes.

However, PBAC concluded Semagluide No ~ Subsidies must be paid through PBS.

The PBAC has mentioned evidence of long -term benefits due to weight loss of people who have an increase in the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or stroke. However, when estimating the cost efficiency of the Semaglutide, this effect did not affect the calculation.

The committee suggested that the submission of the future can focus on patients with at least two markers of existing cardiovascular (heart) disease, type 2 diabetes or “high cardiac disease risk”. This may include hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, fatty liver disease or diabetes transition.

What did England decide?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) plays a similar role as a PBAC and tells the decision to pay the UK drug subsidy.

As a result NICE recommendationSemaglutide receives subsidies for adults with at least one weight -related state and 30 or more BMI in the UK. The patient must be treated by a professional weight management service, and the prescription is for up to two years.

More recently, NICE approved another GLP-1 agent.For adults with Tirzepatide, at least one weight -related state and BMI of 35 or more.

This approval has not limited prescriptions to those who have been treated in professional weight management services. However, only 22,000 out of 3.4 million people who meet the qualification standards You will receive a TIRZEPATIDE For the next three years. I’m not sure how 220,000 patients will be chosen.

The limitations of Tirzepatide will reduce the impact of GLP-1 agents on the health budget. It is also intended to inform all eligible patients with a wider rollout.

Semaglutide and Tirzepatide mentioned that if the patient loses less than 5% of his weight for six months, the clinical trial should be considered.

Why did you reach that decision?

NICE evaluated the use of GLP-1 agents for a broader population than PBAC. It is a person with a weight -related state and a BMI more than 30.

Another difference is that NICE’s cost -efficiency analysis contains estimates to the organs of these drugs in reducing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, knee replacement and obesity surgery.

The proposed price of the GLP-1 agent in the UK and Australia has not been reported. We can only observe the expected health benefits. These are displayed as an additional number of “quality adjustment life” (QALYS) related to the use of drugs. One QALY corresponds to an additional year of the best health you can imagine.

The committee estimates the amount of health expenditures needed to obtain QALYS to check if it is worth public investments. If you look at the committee’s estimates on weight loss drugs (without maximum 2 years):

• wonderful The benefits of 0.7 QALYS have been reported per patient who receives half glutees for target groups with more than 30 BMI.

• PBAC I reported the benefits of 0.3 QALYS, but reported on the population with BMI or more.

Some of the estimated QALY gains differences are that the PBAC did not take into account the decrease in the risk of future weight -related conditions and affects existing conditions.

In contrast, the NIC mentioned a significant cost error due to the reduction of weight -related status. In particular, some patients can avoid the development of diabetes.

Time to reconsider PBAC’s focus?

NICE and PBAC are clearly concerned about the effects of GLP-1 agents on health budgets.

PBAC tries to limit access to the highest risk -restricted people. It is also more conservative in estimating the expected benefits of the GLP-1 agent. To do this, the manufacturer must lower the price to consider these drugs cost efficiently.

Perhaps this approach is effective and the Australian government will pay less for these drugs when it publicly funds.

However, since the GLP-1 agent is not in the agenda of the upcoming PBAC meeting, there is no timeline when the GLP-1 agent receives funds for weight loss.

Further reading: people in Ozempic may have a heart attack, stroke and addiction, but nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain