New Weight-Loss Pill Shows Greater Effectiveness Than NHS Injections

Recent studies published in The Lancet reveal that amycretin, a weight-loss medication available in injection and tablet forms, has shown significant effectiveness in reducing body weight among adults with obesity. Weekly injections of amycretin led to an average weight loss of 24.3% over 36 weeks, while daily tablets resulted in 13.1% weight loss within 12 weeks, suggesting tablets could become a more convenient alternative to injections. The NHS is beginning to prescribe these weight-loss jabs, including Mounjaro (tirzepatide), with expectations of wider access and potential inclusion in pharmacies, viewed as transformative akin to statins for obesity management. Experts, including NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, anticipate these medications becoming more affordable and broadly used, potentially reducing risks of obesity-related cancers and aiding patients awaiting surgery. However, the UK’s chief medical officer emphasizes that these drugs should complement, not replace, public health measures addressing social factors contributing to obesity. Side effects such as nausea and vomiting were generally mild to moderate and resolved during treatment, underscoring the drugs' safety and tolerability in early trials.