As controversy raged about the new weight loss drug approved for use on the NHS, retail chain Superdrug was last week urging customers to register interest in the injection.
Though advertising prescription drugs is in theory banned, the online ad reflected public enthusiasm for what is widely called a wonder drug. Some experts warned of a false dawn, and advised ministers against “jumping on a bandwagon”.
Semaglutide, manufactured by Danish company Novo Nordisk and marketed in the UK as Wegovy, is injected weekly and must be prescribed by a specialist. A similar drug, liraglutide, marketed as Saxenda and made by the same company, is already available, but must be injected daily.
Proponents say these new-generation weight-loss drugs are a significant new tool in the battle against obesity. A version called tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly, has also significantly reduced body weight in trials.
The drugs work by mimicking the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) which regulates appetite and food intake. The drug is based on a chemical agent found in the venom of the Gila monster, a lizard native to parts of the US and Mexico.
Last Wednesday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended the drug for use in NHS weight management services, saying it could help patients reduce their weight by more than 10%. Prescriptions will be limited to two years because no data is yet available on the drug’s long-term impacts. Side effects include fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Experts said the so-called “skinny jab” was not a “quick fix”, but could help in the battle against obesity. Some, however, feel that the billions of pounds spent on rolling out such drugs may be better spent on the prevention of obesity.
Prof Neal Barnard of the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington DC, who is also president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said research suggests a good diet can stimulate GLP-1 secretion, and help control appetite, without the side effects or cost of medicines. He said: “Research has shown that by choosing foods correctly, you will boost your GLP-1 naturally without an injection.”
Other experts said the drugs would have a limited impact if patients continued to eat lots of foods high in sugar and fat.
Despite the ongoing debate, Wegovy is being promoted online in the UK for private purchase when it becomes available. Daily version Saxenda is also being promoted.
The UK’s Human Medicines Regulations 2012 states: “A person may not publish an advertisement that is likely to lead to the use of a prescription-only medicine.” The code of the Committee of Advertising Practice also bans such adverts.
Superdrug said the Wegovy advert had been posted in error and was being removed. A spokesperson said: “We are urgently reviewing the protocols with our third party agency to ensure such an error does not reoccur.”
