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New higher-dose semaglutide injection launched following UK regulatory approval Novo Nordisk has launched a new 7.2mg single-dose pen for its weight-loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy), following approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Previously, those who needed a 7.2mg dose of semaglutide had to be given three 2.4mg injections – taken to ... Date: 03-06-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
New weight-loss jab yields results similar to bariatric surgery, phase 3 trial finds ... stigational, once-weekly, triple hormone receptor agonist, which means it activates three key hormone pathways that play a role in glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. While semaglutide activates GLP-1 receptors, and tirzepatide activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, retatrutide also activates a third – glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood sugar levels to p ... Date: 27-05-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Last chance to register for free Pulse virtual event featuring new NICE diabetes guidance ... uld be offered SGLT-2 inhibitors much earlier in their treatment, as well as now being offered metformin alongside it. The guidance also expanded access to GLP-1 receptor agonists – such as semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide – and tirzepatide. This was recommended for people who were diagnosed before age 40, or are living with obesity, with NICE saying that around 810,000 more people could benefit f ... Date: 11-05-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • CPD • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
UK needs better warning systems for medicine shortages, says pharma body Better early warning systems are needed to address medicines shortages before they impact patients, a report from the body representing pharmaceutical companies in the UK has concluded. The Association of th ... Date: 08-05-2026 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
GPs seek clarity over semaglutide rollout for overweight patients with CVD ... NHS intends to provide access to weight loss jabs for people with established cardiovascular disease who are overweight, an expert has warned. NICE has finalised guidance opening up eligibility to semaglutide (Wegovy) for people who have had a heart attack or stroke and are overweight. Under the recommendations, published today (7 May), more than 1.2 million people will qualify for treatment alongside ... Date: 07-05-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity
An expert look at semaglutide for CVD prevention; and the BMA's GP collective action dilemma ... se in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is now live and available on all podcast platforms. In this month's episode, our team unpicks the new guidance from NICE, recommending use of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) to prevent heart attack and stroke. Pulse editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by Professor Ahmet Fuat, honorary professor of primary care cardiology at Durham University and GP ... Date: 13-04-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Pulse in Focus
Drugged up beyond belief ... do you think, that we are prescribing way too many drugs to way too many people? Just about every other headline seems to brings a new pharmaceutical mandate, and this week we are mostly prescribing semaglutide. Yes, of course there is a sense we are prescribing too much. We’d all agree on that, then we’d remember QOF, and guidelines, and litigation, etc etc, and sigh, and carry on as before. And carr ... Date: 08-04-2026 Categories: • Copperfield
Wegovy in patients with CVD - who will be eligible under NICE plans NICE has recommended that patients with established cardiovascular disease who are also overweight should be offered semaglutide (Wegovy). Emma Wilkinson looks at who is eligible and what it will mean for GPs. The NHS in England is set to expand the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) to more than a million adults with a high cardi ... Date: 02-04-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity
NICE recommends semaglutide injections to prevent heart attack and stroke ... a heart attack or stroke and are overweight will now be eligible for weight loss jabs on the NHS after a new NICE technology appraisal recommended their use. A weekly injection of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) can be offered to individuals who have had a heart attack, a stroke or have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease if they also have a BMI of at least 27 kg/m². The maintenance dose of 2 ... Date: 01-04-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity
Weight regain after stopping GLP-1 drugs may plateau after time, researchers say ... ht rapidly after taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs this may plateau after time, a new modelling study has reported. A year after stopping taking glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide (WeGovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) people regain on average 60% of their lost weight, the latest analysis found. But beyond this, their weight regain plateaus, with individuals managing to keep o ... Date: 10-03-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
GLP-1 drugs reduce risk of addiction as well as deaths and overdose GLP-1 drugs may help reduce the risk of addiction to alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine, and opioids, a large US study has reported. Medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide may also cut deaths and reduce the risk of overdose and hospital admission for those already diagnosed with a substance use disorder, results suggest. It adds to a growing body of ... Date: 06-03-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
NICE confirms first-line SGLT-2 prescribing in final type 2 diabetes guidance ... t most people with type 2 diabetes should now be offered metformin along with an SGLT-2 inhibitor from the start of treatment. The guidance also expands access to GLP-1 receptor agonists - such as semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide - and tirzepatide. Semaglutide will now be recommended for people with type 2 diabetes who also have cardiovascular disease caused by blocke ... Date: 18-02-2026 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Key questions on obesity medications ... tients with obesity. Complete the module on Pulse 365 today The management of obesity has been transformed in recent years with the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda), and the dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) RA tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The prescribing of tirzepatide in NHS primary care, albeit as p ... Date: 13-02-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
GPs to be given 'real-time' medicine shortages information 'this year' The Government will enable GPs to see medicine shortages ‘in real time’ this year, so that they can supply alternative scripts if needed, a minister has said. Dr Zubir Ahmed, under-secretary of state for hea ... Date: 11-02-2026 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload
GPs require improved communication about medicines shortages, Lords warn Medicines shortages in the UK is a national security issue that should be given more priority, a report from the House of Lords has warned. Chief among its recommendations is for shortages to be better commu ... Date: 05-02-2026 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
MHRA issues safety alert on weight-loss jabs and risk of severe pancreatitis ... an be particularly serious in some cases, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said. Patients should contact a doctor urgently if they are taking a GLP-1 medicine such as semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and have of the condition, the MHRA update advised. Between 2007 and October 2025, the MHRA has received 1,296 Yellow Card reports of pancreatitis associated wit ... Date: 30-01-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
MHRA approves triple-strength semaglutide dose for weight loss A higher-strength semaglutide (Wegovy) dose has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for adults who require a higher percentage of weight loss. The new 7.2mg semaglutide injection is ... Date: 15-01-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Weight regain four times faster after GLP-1s than diet and exercise programmes ... ercise programmes, research suggests. An analysis of pooled trial data by a team at Oxford University found an average rate of weight regain is 0.4kg/month after stopping treatment with drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Individuals were projected to return to their pre-treatment weight by 1.7 years and have reversed improvements in cardiometabolic risk markers within 1.4 years of stopping the dru ... Date: 09-01-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Around 1.6 million UK adults use weight-loss drugs, research finds ... ve plans to do so in the near future, research suggests. Analysis of an ongoing survey tracking smoking habits suggested around 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland used drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to aid weight loss between early 2024 and early 2025. The findings suggest another 3.3 million people would be interested in using weight-loss drugs over the ne ... Date: 08-01-2026 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Semaglutide has heart benefits regardless of weight loss, research finds Semaglutide appears to be protective against heart attacks and other cardiac events regardless of weight loss, research has shown. The results could have ‘profound’ implications for how the drug is used, expe ... Date: 30-10-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity
Contraception and HRT prescribing in patients on GLP-1 agonist weight-loss drugs ... T GLP-1 agonists aren’t widely available on the NHS, so why is this a big issue? The world of weight loss has been transformed by the arrival of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (e.g. semaglutide), and the dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists such as tirzepatide. For brevity, we will use the term ‘GLP-1 agonist’ to discuss both classes of drug. NICE guidance re ... Date: 30-10-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Managing severe obesity – navigating Mounjaro eligibility and other options ... icant additional support such as fruit and veg vouchers to avoid risks of malnutrition. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists (RAs) like semaglutide and liraglutide have been associated with increased risk of biliary disease.4 This is likely due to direct suppression of the gut hormone cholecystokinin causing delayed emptying of the gall bladder.5 However, significant weight loss (>5% startin ... Date: 23-10-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Free Pulse virtual events to feature CVD, respiratory and women’s health ... e, respiratory and women’s health. The September events are centred on CVD and respiratory. Next Wednesday (10 September), experts will discuss how to manage palpitations in primary care, use of semaglutide and tirzepatide in primary care, and what GPs need to know about HFpEF. The virtual respiratory conference, on Thursday 11 September, will include discussions on treating chronic cough in children, ... Date: 02-09-2025 Categories: • CPD • Gastroenterology and obesity • Paediatrics • Respiratory • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Type 2 diabetes guideline shake-up to see first-line SGLT-2 prescribing GPs could face a significant rise in prescribing and monitoring workload under draft NICE guidelines that recommend much earlier use of newer type 2 diabetes drugs. The draft guidance, published today, would ... Date: 20-08-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Renal medicine, urology and men's health
‘Living’ guideline advises GPs on use of GLP-1 and SGLT-2 drugs in type 2 diabetes ... ideline published in the BMJ recommended. But clinicians will want to take into account the higher certainty of cardiovascular and kidney benefits offered by GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide against larger weight loss benefits from tirzepatide based on a patient’s risk profile ‘as well as their values and preferences’. For adults at higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications, the gu ... Date: 15-08-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology
Government to pilot new obesity services to 'ease pressure on GPs' ... to make weight-loss jabs available to the poorest who have the highest need. The plan said that the NHS will partner with industry to deliver GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide through a range of innovative models under an ‘ambitious moonshot’ approach. Patients may be able to access them online or via high street pharmacies under the proposals to offer ‘fast and equitable’ treatment. ... Date: 12-08-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Persistent medicines shortages affecting health outcomes, MPs warn Medicines shortages in England have escalated from being isolated incidents to ‘a persistent challenge’ with ‘significant consequences for patients, a group of MPs has warned. People with chronic conditions ... Date: 11-07-2025 Categories: • Bacterial infection • Diabetes and endocrinology • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Mental health, pain and addiction • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Weight-loss jabs to be made available to poorest patients ... ll be made available to the poorest who have the highest need, the Government has said in the NHS 10-year plan. The NHS will partner with industry to deliver GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide through a range of innovative models under an ‘ambitious moonshot’ approach. Patients may be able to access them online or via high street pharmacies under the proposals to offer ‘fast and equitab ... Date: 07-07-2025 Categories: • 10 Year Health Plan • Cancer • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction • Paediatrics
MHRA issues warning on contraception use alongside weight-loss injections ... as received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs. Of those, 26 were related to tirzepatide, with one reported as unintentional, and eight reports were for people taking semaglutide. A further nine have been recorded for liraglutide, of which one recorded the pregnancy was unintentional – although women do not have to disclose this information. The MHRA stressed that Yello ... Date: 05-06-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Big questions: GP tirzepatide prescribing and international medical graduates ... ugs? The rollout of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in primary care begins this month, a year since the initial NICE recommendations were made. GPs will be able to prescribe the weight-loss drug - unlike semaglutide, for which GPs need to refer patients to specialist weight management services. The initial guidance would have put immense pressure on GPs, with around 3.4 million patients being eligible within mo ... Date: 03-06-2025 Categories: • Big questions
GPs need to engage with obesity management as weight-loss jabs are rolled out, say researchers ... hly effective in helping patients lose weight, their recent findings strike a ‘cautionary note’ on how they are best used. A systematic analysis of trial data of GLP-1RA treatments found that semaglutide and tirzepatide led to an average weight loss of 16kg, but once participants stopped taking them, weight returned to baseline by 1.7 years. Presenting the research at the European Congress on Obesity, ... Date: 28-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Involve private providers in weight loss jab rollout, urges think tank ... a ‘digital first’ approach, a report from the Tony Blair Institute has concluded. The analysis said faster roll out through more innovative models of providing anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide would save billions a year in benefits payments through keeping people in work longer. Such a scheme should be targeted at those over 40 years old and of working age, to ‘maximise the ... Date: 21-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Complicated contraception: Prescribing in women with obesity ... to rise, however there are specific concerns related to tirzepatide, which reduced bioavailability of oral contraception in one study. This has not been shown to be clinically relevant with semaglutide or liraglutide. The FSRH advises that those using tirzepatide should switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for four weeks after initiation or dose increase. It is suggested that women do not t ... Date: 03-04-2025 Categories: • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Semaglutide not associated with increased risk of suicide, say researchers The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, to treat type 2 diabetes is not associated with an increased risk of suicidality as previously suggested, an analysis of UK data has found. A study comparing GP records of patients taking GLP-1RA ... Date: 19-03-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GPs free to prescribe semaglutide as national supply issues resolve GPs are free to prescribe semaglutide to all eligible patients in line with NICE guidelines after long-term shortages have been resolved. An updated medicines supply notice published this month said the supply of glucagon like peptide ... Date: 11-03-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
First randomised trial indicates Wegovy effective for treating alcohol-use disorder Weight-loss and diabetes drug Wegovy (semaglutide) may also help heavy drinkers cut down on their alcohol intake, a randomised controlled trial has found. A US study in 48 people with alcohol use disorder found that the weekly GLP-1 receptor agon ... Date: 12-02-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Mental health, pain and addiction
GPs could face legal risk if they ignore weight-loss jab information requests, says MDO ... been issued by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) after the General Pharmaceutical Council mandated stricter rules around prescribing weight-loss injections. Pharmacies selling drugs such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will now have to independently verify information the patient, provides which could include checking with their GP. The MDU said they had already seen a rise in queries ... Date: 05-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Online weight-loss prescribers issued new rules that could increase GP workload ... that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. A version of this article was first published by Pulse's sister title The Pharmacist Date: 04-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may cut risk of dementia and other conditions Use of GLP-1 weight loss-drugs - such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) - is associated with reduced risk of a wide range of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, a large study has concluded. US researchers analysed ... Date: 22-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Elderly care • Gastroenterology and obesity • Neurology • Respiratory
GPs should use ‘clinical judgment’ on child obesity safeguarding concerns, says NICE GPs should use their ‘clinical judgement’ to decide when a child's obesity becomes a safeguarding concern because of a ‘significant threat’ to their health and wellbeing, NICE has said in updated guidelines on ... Date: 17-01-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Paediatrics
GPs can reject requests for input on private weight-loss jab prescriptions, say LMCs ... evealed that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. Kernow LMC told practices that this is ‘private work’ and a fee can be charged to private providers, while North and South Essex LMC said GPs - who are already ‘under extreme pressure’ - cannot t ... Date: 09-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Renal medicine, urology and men's health • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics • Workload
NICE accepts slower rollout of tirzepatide but GP workload concerns remain ... hree years which is why we’ve taken the unprecedented decision to review the way this medicine is delivered to patients then. ‘Tirzepatide and other drugs like it, such as semaglutide, will help people living with obesity to lose weight, and as a result will reduce their risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. ‘We have had to make this difficult decision in order to protect other vital NHS ... Date: 05-12-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GLP-1 drugs could help people drink less alcohol, research suggests ... the future for excessive alcohol use and subsequently could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related deaths,’ Dr Subhani added. The UK’s medicines regulator recently approved the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) for cardiovascular prevention in obese and overweight patients with established CVD. And the Government has entered into an agreement with the makers of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to trial whether supplying ... Date: 03-12-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
MHRA urges GPs to be alert to signs of GLP-1 agonist 'misuse' The medicines regulator has urged GPs to be alert to signs of ‘misuse’ of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, such as semaglutide. Healthcare professionals should also ensure patients are aware of the side-effects of the diabetes and weight loss injections and report any adverse reactions through the Yellow Card reporting scheme ... Date: 24-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Renal medicine, urology and men's health
NHSE plans phased rollout of tirzepatide for weight loss to avoid 'profound' impact on GPs ... pproaches to obesity.' The first head-to-head study recently found that use of tirzepatide is associated with significantly greater weight loss than semaglutide. Date: 04-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Workload
MRA drugs 'should be considered' in all patients with heart failure ... tion. ‘In patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, management should include finerenone in addition to a SGLT2 inhibitor,’ he said. Meanwhile, a recent study found semaglutide could be beneficial in helping to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure. In a trial of more than 600 patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ... Date: 01-10-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular
Semaglutide may help manage difficult-to-treat skin condition Semaglutide may be an effective treatment for the skin condition hidradenitis suppurative, common in people with obesity, say researchers. A team in Ireland monitored outcomes for a small number of obese pati ... Date: 25-09-2024 Categories: • Dermatology and wound care • Gastroenterology and obesity
Wegovy makers say new amycretin weight-loss pill even more effective ... makers of Wegovy, led to a 13.1% weight loss over three months in early trial results. Novo Nordisk said its phase 1 trial of a daily dose of amycretin produced an apparent faster weight loss than semaglutide injections and could prove to be a ‘convenient’ alternative. Delegates at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference heard that the first study of the drug – which targets both ... Date: 16-09-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Research suggests link between semaglutide and suicidal thoughts Researchers have found an apparent disproportional risk of suicidal thoughts with semaglutide compared with other diabetes drugs. A study based on a World Health Organisation global database of adverse drug reactions found while cases were very rare patients were significantly more likely ... Date: 23-08-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GP practices should be scaled up to 250k-patient lists, says Tony Blair think tank ... help boost prevention, highlighting the ‘potential of GLP-1 agonist-type drugs’, such as semaglutide. It said it is ‘simply not feasible’ to roll out this drug routinely for weight management in general practice, arguing that the NHS needs to make ‘greater use’ of community pharmacy. Professor Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said he thinks t ... Date: 20-08-2024 Categories: • Contract • Technology

New higher-dose semaglutide injection launched following UK regulatory approval Novo Nordisk has launched a new 7.2mg single-dose pen for its weight-loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy), following approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Previously, those who needed a 7.2mg dose of semaglutide had to be given three 2.4mg injections – taken to ... Date: 03-06-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

New weight-loss jab yields results similar to bariatric surgery, phase 3 trial finds ... stigational, once-weekly, triple hormone receptor agonist, which means it activates three key hormone pathways that play a role in glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. While semaglutide activates GLP-1 receptors, and tirzepatide activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, retatrutide also activates a third – glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood sugar levels to p ... Date: 27-05-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Last chance to register for free Pulse virtual event featuring new NICE diabetes guidance ... uld be offered SGLT-2 inhibitors much earlier in their treatment, as well as now being offered metformin alongside it. The guidance also expanded access to GLP-1 receptor agonists – such as semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide – and tirzepatide. This was recommended for people who were diagnosed before age 40, or are living with obesity, with NICE saying that around 810,000 more people could benefit f ... Date: 11-05-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • CPD • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

UK needs better warning systems for medicine shortages, says pharma body Better early warning systems are needed to address medicines shortages before they impact patients, a report from the body representing pharmaceutical companies in the UK has concluded. The Association of th ... Date: 08-05-2026 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

GPs seek clarity over semaglutide rollout for overweight patients with CVD ... NHS intends to provide access to weight loss jabs for people with established cardiovascular disease who are overweight, an expert has warned. NICE has finalised guidance opening up eligibility to semaglutide (Wegovy) for people who have had a heart attack or stroke and are overweight. Under the recommendations, published today (7 May), more than 1.2 million people will qualify for treatment alongside ... Date: 07-05-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity

An expert look at semaglutide for CVD prevention; and the BMA's GP collective action dilemma ... se in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is now live and available on all podcast platforms. In this month's episode, our team unpicks the new guidance from NICE, recommending use of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) to prevent heart attack and stroke. Pulse editorial adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft is joined by Professor Ahmet Fuat, honorary professor of primary care cardiology at Durham University and GP ... Date: 13-04-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Pulse in Focus

Drugged up beyond belief ... do you think, that we are prescribing way too many drugs to way too many people? Just about every other headline seems to brings a new pharmaceutical mandate, and this week we are mostly prescribing semaglutide. Yes, of course there is a sense we are prescribing too much. We’d all agree on that, then we’d remember QOF, and guidelines, and litigation, etc etc, and sigh, and carry on as before. And carr ... Date: 08-04-2026 Categories: • Copperfield

Wegovy in patients with CVD - who will be eligible under NICE plans NICE has recommended that patients with established cardiovascular disease who are also overweight should be offered semaglutide (Wegovy). Emma Wilkinson looks at who is eligible and what it will mean for GPs. The NHS in England is set to expand the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) to more than a million adults with a high cardi ... Date: 02-04-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity

NICE recommends semaglutide injections to prevent heart attack and stroke ... a heart attack or stroke and are overweight will now be eligible for weight loss jabs on the NHS after a new NICE technology appraisal recommended their use. A weekly injection of weight loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) can be offered to individuals who have had a heart attack, a stroke or have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease if they also have a BMI of at least 27 kg/m². The maintenance dose of 2 ... Date: 01-04-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity

Weight regain after stopping GLP-1 drugs may plateau after time, researchers say ... ht rapidly after taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs this may plateau after time, a new modelling study has reported. A year after stopping taking glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide (WeGovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) people regain on average 60% of their lost weight, the latest analysis found. But beyond this, their weight regain plateaus, with individuals managing to keep o ... Date: 10-03-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

GLP-1 drugs reduce risk of addiction as well as deaths and overdose GLP-1 drugs may help reduce the risk of addiction to alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine, and opioids, a large US study has reported. Medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide may also cut deaths and reduce the risk of overdose and hospital admission for those already diagnosed with a substance use disorder, results suggest. It adds to a growing body of ... Date: 06-03-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

NICE confirms first-line SGLT-2 prescribing in final type 2 diabetes guidance ... t most people with type 2 diabetes should now be offered metformin along with an SGLT-2 inhibitor from the start of treatment. The guidance also expands access to GLP-1 receptor agonists - such as semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide - and tirzepatide. Semaglutide will now be recommended for people with type 2 diabetes who also have cardiovascular disease caused by blocke ... Date: 18-02-2026 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Key questions on obesity medications ... tients with obesity. Complete the module on Pulse 365 today The management of obesity has been transformed in recent years with the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda), and the dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) RA tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The prescribing of tirzepatide in NHS primary care, albeit as p ... Date: 13-02-2026 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

GPs to be given 'real-time' medicine shortages information 'this year' The Government will enable GPs to see medicine shortages ‘in real time’ this year, so that they can supply alternative scripts if needed, a minister has said. Dr Zubir Ahmed, under-secretary of state for hea ... Date: 11-02-2026 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload

GPs require improved communication about medicines shortages, Lords warn Medicines shortages in the UK is a national security issue that should be given more priority, a report from the House of Lords has warned. Chief among its recommendations is for shortages to be better commu ... Date: 05-02-2026 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

MHRA issues safety alert on weight-loss jabs and risk of severe pancreatitis ... an be particularly serious in some cases, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said. Patients should contact a doctor urgently if they are taking a GLP-1 medicine such as semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and have of the condition, the MHRA update advised. Between 2007 and October 2025, the MHRA has received 1,296 Yellow Card reports of pancreatitis associated wit ... Date: 30-01-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

MHRA approves triple-strength semaglutide dose for weight loss A higher-strength semaglutide (Wegovy) dose has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for adults who require a higher percentage of weight loss. The new 7.2mg semaglutide injection is ... Date: 15-01-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Weight regain four times faster after GLP-1s than diet and exercise programmes ... ercise programmes, research suggests. An analysis of pooled trial data by a team at Oxford University found an average rate of weight regain is 0.4kg/month after stopping treatment with drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Individuals were projected to return to their pre-treatment weight by 1.7 years and have reversed improvements in cardiometabolic risk markers within 1.4 years of stopping the dru ... Date: 09-01-2026 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Around 1.6 million UK adults use weight-loss drugs, research finds ... ve plans to do so in the near future, research suggests. Analysis of an ongoing survey tracking smoking habits suggested around 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland used drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to aid weight loss between early 2024 and early 2025. The findings suggest another 3.3 million people would be interested in using weight-loss drugs over the ne ... Date: 08-01-2026 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Semaglutide has heart benefits regardless of weight loss, research finds Semaglutide appears to be protective against heart attacks and other cardiac events regardless of weight loss, research has shown. The results could have ‘profound’ implications for how the drug is used, expe ... Date: 30-10-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity

Contraception and HRT prescribing in patients on GLP-1 agonist weight-loss drugs ... T GLP-1 agonists aren’t widely available on the NHS, so why is this a big issue? The world of weight loss has been transformed by the arrival of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (e.g. semaglutide), and the dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists such as tirzepatide. For brevity, we will use the term ‘GLP-1 agonist’ to discuss both classes of drug. NICE guidance re ... Date: 30-10-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Managing severe obesity – navigating Mounjaro eligibility and other options ... icant additional support such as fruit and veg vouchers to avoid risks of malnutrition. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists (RAs) like semaglutide and liraglutide have been associated with increased risk of biliary disease.4 This is likely due to direct suppression of the gut hormone cholecystokinin causing delayed emptying of the gall bladder.5 However, significant weight loss (>5% startin ... Date: 23-10-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Free Pulse virtual events to feature CVD, respiratory and women’s health ... e, respiratory and women’s health. The September events are centred on CVD and respiratory. Next Wednesday (10 September), experts will discuss how to manage palpitations in primary care, use of semaglutide and tirzepatide in primary care, and what GPs need to know about HFpEF. The virtual respiratory conference, on Thursday 11 September, will include discussions on treating chronic cough in children, ... Date: 02-09-2025 Categories: • CPD • Gastroenterology and obesity • Paediatrics • Respiratory • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Type 2 diabetes guideline shake-up to see first-line SGLT-2 prescribing GPs could face a significant rise in prescribing and monitoring workload under draft NICE guidelines that recommend much earlier use of newer type 2 diabetes drugs. The draft guidance, published today, would ... Date: 20-08-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Renal medicine, urology and men's health

‘Living’ guideline advises GPs on use of GLP-1 and SGLT-2 drugs in type 2 diabetes ... ideline published in the BMJ recommended. But clinicians will want to take into account the higher certainty of cardiovascular and kidney benefits offered by GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide against larger weight loss benefits from tirzepatide based on a patient’s risk profile ‘as well as their values and preferences’. For adults at higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications, the gu ... Date: 15-08-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology

Government to pilot new obesity services to 'ease pressure on GPs' ... to make weight-loss jabs available to the poorest who have the highest need. The plan said that the NHS will partner with industry to deliver GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide through a range of innovative models under an ‘ambitious moonshot’ approach. Patients may be able to access them online or via high street pharmacies under the proposals to offer ‘fast and equitable’ treatment. ... Date: 12-08-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Persistent medicines shortages affecting health outcomes, MPs warn Medicines shortages in England have escalated from being isolated incidents to ‘a persistent challenge’ with ‘significant consequences for patients, a group of MPs has warned. People with chronic conditions ... Date: 11-07-2025 Categories: • Bacterial infection • Diabetes and endocrinology • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Mental health, pain and addiction • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Weight-loss jabs to be made available to poorest patients ... ll be made available to the poorest who have the highest need, the Government has said in the NHS 10-year plan. The NHS will partner with industry to deliver GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide through a range of innovative models under an ‘ambitious moonshot’ approach. Patients may be able to access them online or via high street pharmacies under the proposals to offer ‘fast and equitab ... Date: 07-07-2025 Categories: • 10 Year Health Plan • Cancer • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction • Paediatrics

MHRA issues warning on contraception use alongside weight-loss injections ... as received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs. Of those, 26 were related to tirzepatide, with one reported as unintentional, and eight reports were for people taking semaglutide. A further nine have been recorded for liraglutide, of which one recorded the pregnancy was unintentional – although women do not have to disclose this information. The MHRA stressed that Yello ... Date: 05-06-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Big questions: GP tirzepatide prescribing and international medical graduates ... ugs? The rollout of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in primary care begins this month, a year since the initial NICE recommendations were made. GPs will be able to prescribe the weight-loss drug - unlike semaglutide, for which GPs need to refer patients to specialist weight management services. The initial guidance would have put immense pressure on GPs, with around 3.4 million patients being eligible within mo ... Date: 03-06-2025 Categories: • Big questions

GPs need to engage with obesity management as weight-loss jabs are rolled out, say researchers ... hly effective in helping patients lose weight, their recent findings strike a ‘cautionary note’ on how they are best used. A systematic analysis of trial data of GLP-1RA treatments found that semaglutide and tirzepatide led to an average weight loss of 16kg, but once participants stopped taking them, weight returned to baseline by 1.7 years. Presenting the research at the European Congress on Obesity, ... Date: 28-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Involve private providers in weight loss jab rollout, urges think tank ... a ‘digital first’ approach, a report from the Tony Blair Institute has concluded. The analysis said faster roll out through more innovative models of providing anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide would save billions a year in benefits payments through keeping people in work longer. Such a scheme should be targeted at those over 40 years old and of working age, to ‘maximise the ... Date: 21-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Complicated contraception: Prescribing in women with obesity ... to rise, however there are specific concerns related to tirzepatide, which reduced bioavailability of oral contraception in one study. This has not been shown to be clinically relevant with semaglutide or liraglutide. The FSRH advises that those using tirzepatide should switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for four weeks after initiation or dose increase. It is suggested that women do not t ... Date: 03-04-2025 Categories: • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Semaglutide not associated with increased risk of suicide, say researchers The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, to treat type 2 diabetes is not associated with an increased risk of suicidality as previously suggested, an analysis of UK data has found. A study comparing GP records of patients taking GLP-1RA ... Date: 19-03-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GPs free to prescribe semaglutide as national supply issues resolve GPs are free to prescribe semaglutide to all eligible patients in line with NICE guidelines after long-term shortages have been resolved. An updated medicines supply notice published this month said the supply of glucagon like peptide ... Date: 11-03-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

First randomised trial indicates Wegovy effective for treating alcohol-use disorder Weight-loss and diabetes drug Wegovy (semaglutide) may also help heavy drinkers cut down on their alcohol intake, a randomised controlled trial has found. A US study in 48 people with alcohol use disorder found that the weekly GLP-1 receptor agon ... Date: 12-02-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Mental health, pain and addiction

GPs could face legal risk if they ignore weight-loss jab information requests, says MDO ... been issued by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) after the General Pharmaceutical Council mandated stricter rules around prescribing weight-loss injections. Pharmacies selling drugs such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will now have to independently verify information the patient, provides which could include checking with their GP. The MDU said they had already seen a rise in queries ... Date: 05-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Online weight-loss prescribers issued new rules that could increase GP workload ... that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. A version of this article was first published by Pulse's sister title The Pharmacist Date: 04-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may cut risk of dementia and other conditions Use of GLP-1 weight loss-drugs - such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) - is associated with reduced risk of a wide range of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, a large study has concluded. US researchers analysed ... Date: 22-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Elderly care • Gastroenterology and obesity • Neurology • Respiratory

GPs should use ‘clinical judgment’ on child obesity safeguarding concerns, says NICE GPs should use their ‘clinical judgement’ to decide when a child's obesity becomes a safeguarding concern because of a ‘significant threat’ to their health and wellbeing, NICE has said in updated guidelines on ... Date: 17-01-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Paediatrics

GPs can reject requests for input on private weight-loss jab prescriptions, say LMCs ... evealed that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. Kernow LMC told practices that this is ‘private work’ and a fee can be charged to private providers, while North and South Essex LMC said GPs - who are already ‘under extreme pressure’ - cannot t ... Date: 09-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Renal medicine, urology and men's health • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics • Workload

NICE accepts slower rollout of tirzepatide but GP workload concerns remain ... hree years which is why we’ve taken the unprecedented decision to review the way this medicine is delivered to patients then. ‘Tirzepatide and other drugs like it, such as semaglutide, will help people living with obesity to lose weight, and as a result will reduce their risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. ‘We have had to make this difficult decision in order to protect other vital NHS ... Date: 05-12-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GLP-1 drugs could help people drink less alcohol, research suggests ... the future for excessive alcohol use and subsequently could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related deaths,’ Dr Subhani added. The UK’s medicines regulator recently approved the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) for cardiovascular prevention in obese and overweight patients with established CVD. And the Government has entered into an agreement with the makers of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to trial whether supplying ... Date: 03-12-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

MHRA urges GPs to be alert to signs of GLP-1 agonist 'misuse' The medicines regulator has urged GPs to be alert to signs of ‘misuse’ of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, such as semaglutide. Healthcare professionals should also ensure patients are aware of the side-effects of the diabetes and weight loss injections and report any adverse reactions through the Yellow Card reporting scheme ... Date: 24-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Renal medicine, urology and men's health

NHSE plans phased rollout of tirzepatide for weight loss to avoid 'profound' impact on GPs ... pproaches to obesity.' The first head-to-head study recently found that use of tirzepatide is associated with significantly greater weight loss than semaglutide. Date: 04-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Workload

MRA drugs 'should be considered' in all patients with heart failure ... tion. ‘In patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, management should include finerenone in addition to a SGLT2 inhibitor,’ he said. Meanwhile, a recent study found semaglutide could be beneficial in helping to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure. In a trial of more than 600 patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ... Date: 01-10-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular

Semaglutide may help manage difficult-to-treat skin condition Semaglutide may be an effective treatment for the skin condition hidradenitis suppurative, common in people with obesity, say researchers. A team in Ireland monitored outcomes for a small number of obese pati ... Date: 25-09-2024 Categories: • Dermatology and wound care • Gastroenterology and obesity

Wegovy makers say new amycretin weight-loss pill even more effective ... makers of Wegovy, led to a 13.1% weight loss over three months in early trial results. Novo Nordisk said its phase 1 trial of a daily dose of amycretin produced an apparent faster weight loss than semaglutide injections and could prove to be a ‘convenient’ alternative. Delegates at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference heard that the first study of the drug – which targets both ... Date: 16-09-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Research suggests link between semaglutide and suicidal thoughts Researchers have found an apparent disproportional risk of suicidal thoughts with semaglutide compared with other diabetes drugs. A study based on a World Health Organisation global database of adverse drug reactions found while cases were very rare patients were significantly more likely ... Date: 23-08-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GP practices should be scaled up to 250k-patient lists, says Tony Blair think tank ... help boost prevention, highlighting the ‘potential of GLP-1 agonist-type drugs’, such as semaglutide. It said it is ‘simply not feasible’ to roll out this drug routinely for weight management in general practice, arguing that the NHS needs to make ‘greater use’ of community pharmacy. Professor Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said he thinks t ... Date: 20-08-2024 Categories: • Contract • Technology

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