Semaglutide: ‘Game-changing’ weight loss drug?

A new drug has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England for adults struggling with obesity, The Guardian reported.

The drug semaglutide, branded as Wegovy, has been recommended to be available on the National Health Service (NHS).

How does it work?

It imitates glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a hormone released after eating, and thereby helps suppress appetite.

Experts previously lauded the drug as "a game-changer", according to The Guardian report.

For the first time people could work through obesity with drugs instead of undergoing weight-loss surgery, the report added.

Upon being prescribed by a specialist, adults with at least one obesity-related health condition -- such as high blood pressure or heart disease -- may inject themselves once a week using pre-filled pen injector for maximum two years, according to NICE's draft guidelines for England and Wales, BBC reported.

Trials of the drug revealed that it makes people feel fuller and consume less food, which in turn helped obese people shed 10-12 percent body weight after one year when used alongside healthy nutrition and diet, NICE said.

"We know that management of overweight and obesity is one of the biggest challenges our health service is facing. Nearly two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese. It is a lifelong condition that needs medical intervention, has psychological and physical effects, and can affect quality of life," said Helen Knight, programme director at the centre for health technology evaluation, NICE.

The drug has been recommended for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35. However, in exceptional cases, some people with a BMI of 30 or more may also have access to the drug.

More than one in four people in England are obese with BMI of 30 or above, The Guardian report read.

"The committee concluded that there is a large unmet need for many people living with obesity, and that semaglutide would be a welcome new treatment option," NICE said in the recommendation.

The drug, however, will be only prescribed as part of a specialist weight management service under supervision of several professionals.

Obesity, which can lead to physically debilitating and potentially life-limiting conditions, costs the NHS and the British economy billions of pounds every year.