The NHS in England will offer weight-loss injections to more than one million people to reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes, following new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
Semaglutide, sold as Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, is already available on the health service for some obese patients. Now, people with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above who have had a heart attack, stroke, or serious circulation problem in their legs will also be eligible for the weekly jabs.
The Nice recommendation is specifically about preventing cardiovascular events, not just weight loss. Clinical trials found semaglutide reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, with benefits seen before significant weight loss occurred, suggesting direct effects on the heart and blood vessels.
Helen Knight, Nice's director of medicines evaluation, said the evidence from a University College London study was “compelling”, showing people taking semaglutide alongside existing heart medicines were “significantly less likely” to have another heart attack or stroke. The draft guidance means the drug could be available within months.
NHS England's clinical director for cardiovascular disease prevention, Helen Williams, said the treatment could be “life-changing” for over a million high-risk patients, helping prevent thousands of future major cardiovascular events. Health minister Sharon Hodgson called weight-loss drugs a “gamechanger” and a “lifesaver”.
