Only those patients under the care of specialist weight-management services will be offered it initially – matching the approach taken with a similar weight-loss drug, Wegovy.
But from June, the NHS will start offering it to others.
It is unclear exactly how this will be done – GP practices are likely to be in charge of referring patients, but questions remain over who will be providing the ongoing support involving diet and exercise and monitoring.
NHS England is expected to publish guidance on this in the new year. It could involve the use of apps or separate services being established to support GPs.
Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, which is made by Eli Lilly, makes you feel fuller so you eat less. In trials, people on it have lost a fifth of their body weight.
Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, which is already available on the NHS, works in a similar way. But that can only be given to those under the care of specialist weight-loss management.
There are around 40,000 people estimated to be in that position.
The drugs can be bought privately. Both medicines are also already available for people with type 2 diabetes – although semaglutide is marketed as Ozempic for those patients.
The rollout of Mounjaro opens up the option of this new generation of weight-loss drugs to the wider public who are struggling with severe obesity.
To be eligible, patients will also need to have one obesity-related condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.
Under the rollout plans, those with the highest clinical need will be prioritised first.
It is estimated around 250,000 will benefit in the first three years.
NICE then plans to evaluate how that is working, before pushing ahead with the wider rollout.
As this is final draft guidance, it is still possible rollout could be delayed if there are any appeals made against the decision. If there is not, the guidance will be rubber-stamped before Christmas, NICE said.
