The blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro can now be prescribed to children as young as ten with type 2 diabetes, following new guidance from Europe’s drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Until now, treatment options for children with type 2 diabetes—a condition that raises blood sugar levels and increases the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke—were largely limited to metformin and insulin. EMA’s updated recommendations allow Mounjaro to be used in younger patients alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise, helping them better control blood sugar and manage weight.
Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is already approved in adults for both uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and weight loss. The drug, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, works by mimicking hormones that regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite, slow digestion, and lower glucose levels.
In a recent late-stage clinical trial published in The Lancet, children aged 10 to 17 with type 2 diabetes who took Mounjaro for 52 weeks showed improved blood sugar control and significant weight loss. By 30 weeks, children on a 10mg dose had reduced their BMI by an average of 11.2%.
Some participants experienced side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, but these were consistent with adult trials, and few children discontinued treatment.
Dr Tamara Hannon, director of the Clinical Diabetes Programme at Indiana University School of Medicine, said:
“Youth living with type 2 diabetes often face a more aggressive disease course, and first-line treatments like metformin and insulin often fail to control blood sugar adequately. Mounjaro offers a promising opportunity to improve long-term health outcomes.”
Currently, several GLP-1 drugs are available on the NHS in England for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, but all are recommended for adults only. Studies in adults taking Mounjaro have shown weight loss of up to 20% in just over a year.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, has already had its weight-loss jab approved for children aged 12 and above, but EMA’s recommendation now allows Mounjaro for children from age 10, either as a standalone treatment or in combination with other diabetes medications.
Childhood obesity continues to rise in England, with more than a third of primary school children now overweight or obese. Among Year 6 pupils (ages 10–11), over 22% are classed as clinically obese, increasing their risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers later in life.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, causing glucose levels to rise. Over time, the pancreas may struggle to produce enough insulin. Symptoms include excessive thirst, tiredness, and frequent urination, although many children show no obvious signs. Persistently high blood sugar can cause long-term complications affecting the heart, eyes, kidneys, and feet.
In the UK, almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/22, with around 90% of cases being type 2, which is strongly linked to obesity.
