More than a million people living with heart disease in England are set to be offered a weekly weight loss injection to reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the use of semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy, for overweight and obese patients with certain cardiovascular conditions.
According to reports, the drug, already prescribed for obesity and type 2 diabetes, works by slowing digestion and encouraging weight loss.
NICE said clinical trials also suggest semaglutide has a direct effect on the heart and blood vessels, with evidence showing a 20 per cent reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events among trial participants.
The guidance recommends the jab for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above, alongside statins, a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise.
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Officials estimate that up to 1.2 million people across England could benefit, with the treatment expected to be available on the NHS within months.
Helen Knight, NICE’s director of medicines evaluation, said: “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, described the treatment as “life-changing.”
Williams said:
“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.”