A major new treatment option for people living with heart disease is set to become available on the NHS in England within months, after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved the use of the GLP‑1 drug semaglutide, also known as Wegovy.
The decision could see up to 1.2 million people with cardiovascular disease gain access to the drug over the coming years, helping to prevent heart attacks, strokes and other serious complications.
Following today’s approval, people with heart and circulatory conditions who are overweight or obese will be eligible to receive the treatment from the NHS from this summer, after the health service struck a deal making its use cost‑effective.
Draft NICE guidance published today recommends semaglutide as a treatment option for adults who:
- Have previously had a heart attack or stroke, or
- Have a serious circulatory condition such as peripheral arterial disease, and
- Have a BMI of 27 or higher, classed as overweight or obese
The drug will be prescribed alongside a healthy diet and increased physical activity, ensuring it forms part of a broader approach to cardiovascular risk reduction.
Semaglutide is administered via a weekly injection and can be taken safely alongside other commonly prescribed cardiovascular medicines, including statins and blood‑pressure‑lowering drugs, to further improve patient outcomes.
Clinical trial data reviewed by NICE shows that semaglutide reduced the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, by 20% compared with placebo in overweight patients with heart and circulatory disease.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death in England, but experts estimate that around 70% of cases are preventable through effective treatment, lifestyle changes and early intervention.
Health leaders say the introduction of semaglutide represents one of the most significant advances in preventative heart care in recent years.
Semaglutide is already used by the NHS in England under other brand names:
- Wegovy is currently offered through specialist NHS weight‑management services for people with obesity
- Ozempic, another form of semaglutide, is widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes
The new guidance expands its role, recognising its effectiveness not just for weight management, but for reducing life‑threatening cardiovascular risk.
The rollout of Wegovy for heart disease patients forms part of the government’s 10‑Year Health Plan, which aims to help people live well with long‑term conditions, avoid serious complications and reduce preventable hospital admissions.
The NHS has already seen success through earlier preventative treatments, including:
- Wider and faster use of blood‑thinning medicines, helping more than 500,000 people and preventing thousands of strokes
- Expanded use of cholesterol‑lowering and blood‑pressure medications to manage cardiovascular risk
Helen Williams, National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at NHS England, commented:
“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.”
By combining weight reduction, improved metabolic health and proven cardiovascular protection, NHS leaders believe semaglutide could help thousands of patients live longer, healthier lives, while reducing pressure on hospitals and emergency care.
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