Millions of Brits to receive weight loss drug Wegovy

The NHS’s drugs watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), has approved the use of semaglutide for overweight and obese patients with specific heart and circulatory problems, in a bid to lower their risk of a serious cardiovascular event.

Marketed as Wegovy and produced by Novo Nordisk, the once‑weekly jab is a GLP‑1 receptor agonist that slows digestion, which in turn promotes weight loss.

Health officials estimate that around 1.2 million people in England could be eligible for the treatment.

How can Wegovy help deal with high BMI?

New guidance says the treatment can be used by patients with a body mass index (BMI) score of 27 or over in addition to other medicines, such as statins, and alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The move means there will be a rapid expansion of people eligible to take the drugs on the health service.

Health service officials said the treatment is set to be available on the NHS “within months”.

“We know that people who have already had a heart attack or stroke are living with real fear that it could happen again,” said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice.

“The evidence from the clinical trial is compelling. It showed that people taking semaglutide alongside their existing heart medicines were significantly less likely to have another heart attack or stroke.”

Helen Williams, national clinical director for cardiovascular disease prevention at NHS England, added: “For more than a million people at high risk of heart attack and stroke, this treatment on the NHS could be life-changing – offering a powerful new way to protect their hearts and improve their health.

“We know that people who have already had a heart attack or stroke face a much higher risk of having another.

“Used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise, semaglutide could help prevent thousands of future major cardiovascular events and give many people the chance at a longer and healthier life.”

Health minister Sharon Hodgson said: “Weight loss drugs are proving to be a game changer in tackling obesity.

“Extending their use for people who also suffer from cardiovascular disease will be a lifesaver.”

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “So-called ‘weight loss drugs’ like semaglutide have proven benefits beyond reducing the number on the scales – they are now considered important medicines for preventing deadly heart attacks and strokes.

“Today’s guidance will no doubt help save lives as cardiovascular disease is still one of the country’s biggest killers.”

How can Wegovy help stroke victims?

Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “We always encourage people to reduce their risk of stroke by maintaining a healthy weight, but we understand this can be a challenge for some.

“As stroke survivors live with the worrying threat of further strokes, it’s vital they have options to help prevent that from happening, which suit their own circumstances.

“As many survivors can be left with disabilities which reduce movement, weight loss medication could be a suitable option for them, when recommended by a medical professional.”

Sebnem Avsar Tuna, general manager for Novo Nordisk UK, said the move was an “important step”, adding: “It means clinicians in England now have access to a further treatment that Nice has found to be cost effective, the first and only GLP-1 receptor agonist proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death in this high risk population.”