England expands access to Wegovy for 1.2 million people at risk of heart attack and stroke

The National Health Service (NHS) in England will provide access to the drug Wegovy (semaglutide) for approximately 1.2 million people in an effort to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This was reported by pharmaphorum.

According to new guidelines from the British drug assessment body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), weekly Wegovy injections will be available to overweight individuals—with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher—who have already experienced a heart attack, stroke, or suffer from peripheral arterial disease.

The drug, which is already used within the NHS for a segment of patients with obesity, will be administered as an adjunct to standard therapy—including statins, a low-calorie diet, and increased physical activity.

The decision is based on results from the SELECT clinical trial, which showed that Wegovy reduces the risk of future heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death by nearly 20% over a period of about three years in patients without diabetes. The effect was observed regardless of the degree of weight loss.

With this move, NICE acknowledges the growing evidence that the effects of GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide extend beyond weight loss and should not be limited only to patients with severe obesity.

“Our role is to help healthcare professionals provide the best care while ensuring the effective use of public funds. We are confident that this recommendation strikes the right balance between clinical effectiveness and the optimal use of NHS resources,” said Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE.

“The clinical trial data is compelling. It shows that people taking semaglutide alongside their standard cardiac therapy are significantly less at risk of a new heart attack or stroke,” she added.

The decision was welcomed by doctors and patient organizations, who emphasized that expanding access to the therapy could save lives.

“Today’s guidelines will undoubtedly help save lives, as cardiovascular diseases remain among the leading causes of death in the country,” said Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan of the British Heart Foundation.

“It is therefore crucial that new and effective drugs that prevent complications in cardiovascular diseases, such as semaglutide, reach everyone who can benefit from them as quickly as possible.”

A similar position was expressed by Prof. Riyaz Patel, a cardiologist at University College London Hospitals, who raised the issue of the practical implementation of the therapy and the capacity of the healthcare system.

“We know that other effective drugs, such as those for lowering cholesterol, are administered inconsistently, leading to significant regional disparities,” he pointed out. He further explained that regional health structures must ensure this does not happen with this recommendation, otherwise there is a risk of deepening healthcare inequalities.