New diabetes drug is accepted for use within NHS Scotland

Dulaglutide is licensed for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products including insulin, when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

Over 275,000 people in Scotland have diabetes and there are an estimated 45,500 people living undiagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Dulaglutide will now be available in Scotland as part of a triple therapy in patients with inadequate glycaemic control on two oral anti-diabetic drugs, as an alternative GLP-1 receptor agonist option.

“Living with diabetes is not easy and in practice we see many patients who have not yet been able to obtain optimal glycaemic control and require additional glucose-lowering medication,” said Dr Karen Adamson, Consultant Physician. “The SMC decision today means that there is now an additional treatment option in Scotland to help people better manage their diabetes.”

The decision from the SMC concludes the first Health Technology Appraisal for dulaglutide in the UK.

Dulaglutide is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control as add-on therapy in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products including insulin, when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control. This is as part of a triple therapy in patients with inadequate glycaemic control on two oral anti-diabetic drugs, as an alternative glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist option.

Dulaglutide is also indicated for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control as monotherapy when diet and exercise alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control in patients for whom the use of metformin is considered inappropriate due to intolerance or contraindications. SMC has not reviewed dulaglutide in this indication and cannot recommend its use within NHS Scotland.