The manufacturer of Ozempic has called for cuts in off-label prescriptions for weight-loss treatments and said it expects the current shortage of diabetes drugs to last until 2024.
Ozempic (the brand name for the drug semaglutide) was introduced in the UK four years ago to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
Although the drug is only officially licensed to treat diabetes, it is increasingly being prescribed “off-label” for weight loss, prompting celebrities, social media influencers and politicians, including Boris Johnson. is gaining popularity among
Physicians can prescribe drugs “off label” even if they are not licensed for a specific purpose if they are convinced of their effectiveness in treating a condition. Online pharmacies have played a leading role in off-label prescribing and marketing of Ozempic.
This drug mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is released after a meal. This makes a person feel full, eat less, and lose weight.
A recent study found that people given the drug as part of a weight loss program lost an average of 12 percent of their weight after 68 weeks.
However, the surge in demand for Ozempic has caused Novo Nordisk, the sole manufacturer, to struggle to maintain supply. As a result, pharmacists are unable to fill GP prescriptions, putting diabetics at risk.
A Danish company said: I In the UK, he expects “intermittent supply” of Ozempic to continue into next year, adding that it is working with authorities to block generic prescriptions.
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said: “Ensuring continuous supply to meet the needs of patients and the NHS is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk. expected to last for a year.
“We are in constant consultation with the Ministry of Health and are working together to provide the latest guidance to health professionals, including pharmacists.
“We are also working closely with relevant authorities to deter off-label use of our medicines.
“As part of this, the Ministry of Health is issuing notices to health workers about the situation of shortages and the appropriate and responsible use of our medicines.”
The company said the shortage was due to an “unprecedented level of demand”.
“While we have made significant efforts to increase production, the level of demand is impacting Ozempic’s supply,” the spokesperson added. “We have the factory running 24/7 and have invested in opening new production lines and facilities. We are working to close the shortage as soon as possible.”
The British Diabetes Association has expressed concern that patients on repeat prescriptions are being affected by supply problems, despite prior assurances that they will be protected.
Frontline pharmacists have described the situation as “total chaos” and some local health boards are being forced to prescribe alternative medicines for diabetics.
A 66-year-old woman said: I Last week, she said she had to routinely call up to 30 pharmacies to find one that had Ozempic in stock after a near-fatal reaction to an alternative drug.
Layla Hambeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacy Association, said: I She expects the shortage to continue next year unless weight-loss drug prescribing trends change.
“If current trends around the world for this product continue, I think the shortage will likely last until 2024,” she said.
“We are aware that products generally take longer to manufacture now than they did pre-pandemic.
Hambeck said Novo Nordisk needs to provide pharmacists with a “realistic timeframe” for when the shortage will be resolved so it can meet patient expectations.
“Manufacturers have previously promised that supply would return to normal, but that has not happened, so they are cautious about exactly when they will launch,” she said.
She adds, “It’s been clear for months that there’s a high demand for this product, and it’s been going on for two years in the US already. You would have thought they would have predicted a shortage sooner.”
Supply problems have caused Novo Nordisk to indefinitely delay the UK rollout of Wegobee, another semaglutide drug approved for weight loss treatment.
In May, the National Institute of Health Care Excellence recommended using the drug to treat adults with a BMI of at least 35 and one weight-related health condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Earlier this month, Rishi Sunak announced a £40 million investment to expand access to Wegobee beyond its typically hospital-based specialist weight management services and to allow general practitioners to prescribe the drug. announced the test plan.
Pharmacists initially expected to start supplying Wegovy in May.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman said: “Ozempic continues to have some supply issues and we are working closely with our partners to ensure that the NHS can address this issue so that people with diabetes can get the medicine they need. I support it,” he said.
“We have issued guidance to prescribers and pharmacists that drugs that are approved only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, such as Ozempic, should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss. It should only be prescribed for treatment.”
