NHS England intends to provide the weight-loss drug semaglutide to over 1.2 million people with cardiovascular disease who are overweight, following guidance that demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes
People with heart and circulatory disease who are overweight will be able to receive Semaglutide from summer 2026, following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) after securing a cost-effective deal for the NHS.
Building on the recent approval, draft NICE guidance published for Semaglutide recommends that 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.
NHS to expand use of semaglutide for cardiovascular protection
Semaglutide is currently available on the NHS for people with obesity through specialist weight management services, and Ozempic (another name for semaglutide) is widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
Trial data have shown that semaglutide reduced the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attacks and strokes by 20% in people with heart and circulatory disease who are overweight, compared to placebo.
Increased use of blood-thinning medicines on the NHS has already helped more than 500,000 people, preventing thousands of strokes and deaths. Similarly, blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medicines are helping millions manage their heart health.
Experts and officials weigh in on semaglutide’s heart benefits
Helen Williams, National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at 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 at 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.”
The post Semaglutide offered on nhs to cut heart attack and stroke risk appeared first on Open Access Government.