Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) 

For managing overweight and obesity (June 2025)

On 23^rd December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a Technology Appraisal for tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity (TA1026).

This Technology Appraisal makes tirzepatide available for weight management, under the brand name Mounjaro®. Unlike previous weight management medication, this can be prescribed in Primary Care (for example by a General Practice). However, it still needs the same wraparound services as Wegovy® (semaglutide), so that patients are supported to make the changes needed for the medication to be most effective.

Northamptonshire ICB knows there are patients eligible for this medication who would like to be able to access this as soon as possible. However, this medication will be made available to patients in phases over several years.

We are in the process of developing a service that will make tirzepatide available to the group of patients deemed the highest priority. The priorities have been decided nationally based on both Body Mass Index (BMI) and related health conditions.

We ask that you do not contact your GP surgery to try and obtain Mounjaro® for weight loss just yet. GP practices are incredibly busy, and the additional resource required to manage enquiries will mean they have less time to offer patient appointments and contribute to the set-up of weight management services.

We have also asked our GPs not to prescribe Mounjaro® for weight loss until we have the weight management service, including support for diet and exercise, in place.

We are working with a range of experts from across Northamptonshire to develop a Specialist Weight Management Service for patients with more complex needs, which will prescribe weight management medication in future.

Published: Jun 23, 2025