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Mounjaro (tirzepatide; Eli Lilly) has been approved for use in children aged ten years and older with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
According to its updated summary of product characteristics, published on 9 April 2026, Mounjaro is now indicated for the patient group as an adjunct to diet and exercise, as well as “monotherapy when metformin is considered inappropriate due to intolerance or contraindications [and] in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes”.
This is the same indication for adults with T2DM.
The approval marks the first time tirzepatide has been available for use in children in the UK. It follows approval for the same patient group in the United States by the US Food and Drug Administration in February 2026.
Commenting on the approval, Hannah Beba, consultant pharmacist for diabetes at West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said the change “represents a significant advance in paediatric care”.
“This high‑risk group often presents with an aggressive disease phenotype, rapid progression, and early cardiometabolic complications. Extending dual GIP [glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide]/GLP‑1 [glucagon-like peptide-1] receptor agonist therapy to this population introduces a treatment that addresses both glycaemic control and obesity-related risk,” she added.
“Continued assessment of long‑term safety, durability of response and optimal integration into paediatric treatment pathways will be crucial.”
