Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to (a) tackle shortages of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists and (b) ensure an adequate long-term supply.

There are global supply issues with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). The Department has issued two Medicine Supply Notifications (MSNs), the first in September 2022 advising healthcare professionals not to initiate new patients on semaglutide (Ozempic) and to only use semaglutide for its licensed indications. The second was issued in June 2023 addressing all GLP-1 RA’s including Victoza (liraglutide injection) and Rybelsus (semaglutide tablets) advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring these medicines.

The Department’s guidance is clear that medicines which are solely licensed to treat type 2 diabetes, such as Ozempic, should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss. These medicines should only be prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

GLP-1 RAs have also been added to the list of medicines that are subject to export and hoarding restrictions, to protect United Kingdom supply for UK patients.

The Department has well-established processes to manage supply issues and continues to work closely with national diabetes specialists, the suppliers, wholesalers, all manufacturers of these medicines and the relevant regulatory bodies and agencies to address and resolve these issues as soon as possible.