Overview

• A new study estimates that expanding semaglutide access to eligible UK adults could generate £4.5 billion in annual economic productivity gains.
• The analysis, based on data from 2,660 clinical trial participants, calculated an average productivity increase of £1,127 per person annually.
• Currently, NHS access to semaglutide is restricted to patients with a BMI of 35 or higher and a weight-related condition through specialist clinics.
• Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the drug's potential to reduce obesity and unemployment, stating the findings will be carefully reviewed.
• The study underscores semaglutide's broader societal benefits, including reduced risks of 42 comorbid conditions, but high drug costs remain a barrier to widespread access.