LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) obesity

drug Mounjaro will be available through Britain's state health

system for some patients from March, after the drugs

cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE on Monday gave its blessing.

Mounjaro launched in Britain in February but has been

available only for those paying privately, mainly through online

pharmacies.

NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,

is recommending Mounjaro, alongside diet and exercise changes,

for people with at least one weight-related condition, such as

heart disease or type-2 diabetes, and a body mass index (BMI) -

a measure of body fat based on height and weight - of more than

35.

The eligibility guidelines are the same as those issued by

NICE in March 2023 for Wegovy, the obesity medication made by

rival drugmaker Novo Nordisk.

The criteria mean that around 3.4 million people will be

eligible to receive the drug through the National Health Service

(NHS).

Mounjaro, a weekly injection, is part of a class of

medicines known as GLP-1 analogues originally developed to help

control blood sugar in patients with type-2 diabetes but also

found to suppress appetite and promote a feeling of fullness.

The drug led to an average weight loss of nearly 23% in clinical

trials.

Mounjaro will cost the NHS 122 pounds ($153) per patient per

month for the highest dose, which NICE judged to be

cost-effective given the costs to the health system of obesity

and related conditions.

($1 = 0.7988 pounds)