ELI Lilly Australia announced at the 2023 Australasian Diabetes Congress in Adelaide last week that Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will soon be made available in Australia for adults living with type 2 diabetes.
The registration and launch of Mounjaro represents the first new class of diabetes medicines introduced in nearly a decade.
Mounjaro is a once-weekly GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist.
It is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.
It is to be used as monotherapy when metformin is not tolerated or in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The medicine is not recommended for the treatment of obesity or weight reduction for patients.
Mounjaro is the only registered single molecule for type 2 diabetes that targets GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
These two hormones are involved in regulating blood glucose and account for 66% (44% GIP and 22% GLP-1) of glucose-dependent insulin release following a meal.
Tori Brown, Lilly General Manager of Australia, said, "when the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee met in Jul this year they made the decision to not recommend the listing of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) on the PBS.
"Lilly is currently reviewing the details of the PBAC's decision to determine the best path forward.
"Lilly has decided to launch Mounjaro as a private prescription so that Australian patients with type 2 diabetes can have access to the HbA1c and weight reductions that Mounjaro may offer.
"We are committed to making this first-in-class medicine accessible for adult patients living with type 2 diabetes and our ultimate goal is to secure reimbursement on the PBS," Brown explained.
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