Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the NHS using Tirzepatide to treat patients with diabetes when Ozempic is not available.

The relative merits of Tirzepatide compared to other treatments in any indication is subject to appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which provides recommendations to the National Health Service on a drug’s clinical and cost-effectiveness, including an assessment of comparator products in its methods where appropriate.

NICE published final draft guidance on 8 September 2023 which recommends Tirzepatide for treating type 2 diabetes alongside diet and exercise in adults who meet the specified criteria. Final guidance on Tirzepatide is expected in October 2023.