Over a million people could be offered Wegovy to cut heart attack and stroke risk on the NHS

A new life-changing treatment option – GLP-1 drug semaglutide known as Wegovy – is set to be available on the NHS within months, with 1.2 million people with cardiovascular disease eligible to receive the treatment to help prevent heart attacks and strokes over the next few years.

People with heart and circulatory disease who are overweight will be able to receive the drug in England from this summer, following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today [1^st April] with the NHS striking a deal that makes the treatment cost-effective for use on the health service.

Draft NICE guidance published today for semaglutide – also known as Wegovy and used for weight management – recommends the drug be available as a treatment option for people who have previously had a heart attack, stroke, or a serious circulation problem in the legs (known as peripheral arterial disease), and who are overweight or obese with a BMI of 27 or higher.  

The drug is delivered as a weekly injection and will be prescribed alongside a healthy diet and increased physical activity.

It can also be used alongside other commonly used drugs, such as statins or anti-hypertensives, to further improve health outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Semaglutide is already available on the NHS in England as treatment option for people with obesity, when offered through specialist weight management services in line with NICE guidance, and Ozempic (another brand name for semaglutide) is widely prescribed by the NHS as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.

Clinical trial data has shown that semaglutide reduced the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attacks and strokes by 20 per cent in people with heart and circulatory disease who are overweight compared to placebo.

Cardiovascular disease can be prevented in around seven in ten cases. Semaglutide is the latest innovative treatment being offered by the NHS as part of the 10-Year Health Plan to help people live well with long-term conditions, avoid serious complications, and reduce the risk of hospital visits or preventable death.

Faster use of blood-thinning medicines on the NHS have already helped more than 500,000 people, preventing thousands of strokes and deaths. Blood pressure – and cholesterol-lowering medicines, are also helping millions manage their heart health.    

Helen Williams, National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, NHS England, said: “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.”

Jack Turner, Deputy Director for Medicines Negotiation, NHS England, said: “Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of preventable death and avoidable health harm, but it's also one of the areas with the greatest innovation in the form of new pharmaceuticals and healthtech that are enabling millions of people to live with and better manage their heart condition.

“This latest NHS deal for an innovative medicine will enable NHS patients in England to benefit from the latest application of the drug, semaglutide, that is already helping people as a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes contributing the 10 Year Health Plan ambition to prevent and manage more long-term conditions in a way that avoids the need for emergency care.”

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 life saver.

“We are committed to ensuring the NHS makes these drugs available to those who need them most and this new guidance could help more than a million people.”

Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association, said: “As stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease, it therefore shares many of the same risk factors, including high blood pressure, which is often the result of poor diet, lack of exercise, and resulting obesity. 

“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.  

“However every stroke survivor is different, and their specific needs should be considered carefully to offer the medical support that's right for them. This could include alternative medications, such as anticoagulants, which have also been successful in reducing stroke in recent years and amending other lifestyle factors which can impact the risk of stroke including stopping smoking, enjoying a colourful diet and monitoring alcohol intake.” 

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. 

“That's why it's so important that when we get new and effective medicines which prevent cardiovascular disease complications, like semaglutide, that they get to everyone who could benefit as soon as possible."