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2mo ago

B.C. Restricts Sales of Mounjaro and Trulicity to Safeguard Diabetic Supply

Non-residents must now present a Canadian prescription in person to buy the injectables under oversight of the College of Pharmacists.

A Mounjaro injectable pen.
This image provided by Eli Lilly shows a 15 mg dosage of the company's drug Mounjaro. Already approved to treat type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro is being considered for fast-track approval as a weight-loss drug based on the results of key clinical trials, with the latest announced on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Also known as tirzepatide, it is part of new class of medications that treat overweight and obesity by targeting the metabolic conditions that lead to extra weight.

Overview

  • This regulation extends the province’s 2023 semaglutide controls to the GLP-1 therapies tirzepatide and dulaglutide in an effort to curb off-label weight-loss prescriptions.
  • Mounjaro and Trulicity act on GLP-1 receptors to suppress appetite and have surged in popularity after celebrity and social-media promotion.
  • B.C. residents, Canadian citizens and permanent residents maintain full access through local pharmacies with valid prescriptions.
  • Health Minister Josie Osborne warned that non-diabetic weight-loss use has driven shortages in Canada and the United States.
  • The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia is charged with conducting audits and disciplinary action to ensure pharmacies adhere to the new requirements.