The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart problems and strokes in adults with obesity.
Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, was already approved for weight loss and management.
This approval aligns it with the US Food and Drug Administration, which gave the green light for similar use earlier this year.
Reduction in Heart Risks
The UK approval comes after a study showed that semaglutide, given as a 2.4 mg weekly injection for up to five years, lowers the risk of major heart problems compared to a placebo.
In a trial with over 17,600 participants, Wegovy reduced the risk of heart-related events by 20%.
Specifically, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths occurred in 6.5% of Wegovy users compared to 8% of those on a placebo.
“We’re assured that the appropriate standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness for this medicine have been met,” said Shirley Hopper, MHRA Deputy Director of Innovative Medicines. “This treatment that prevents heart disease and strokes is an important step forward in tackling the serious health consequences of obesity.”
Addressing Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death and disability in the UK.
It is often linked to a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries and an increased risk of blood clots.
With this approval, semaglutide becomes the first weight-loss drug in the UK prescribed to prevent heart-related events in people with heart disease and a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or higher.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, stressed the importance of this approval.
“Nearly two-thirds of adults in England live with excess weight or obesity. Those with heart disease have a very high risk of serious events like heart attacks or strokes,” he said. “Studies have shown that semaglutide can improve the quality of life for those with heart disease by lowering the risk of serious heart events.”
How Wegovy Works
Wegovy is given through a pre-filled injection pen.
The active ingredient, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps regulate blood sugar levels. By binding to GLP-1 receptors on pancreatic cells, semaglutide boosts insulin secretion in response to meals, reduces glucagon release, and slows stomach emptying.
This helps with weight loss.
