The 'miracle' weight-loss jab, semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy, has been given the green light to be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in overweight people. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the drug for a new purpose - to slash the risk of heart problems in people who are overweight or obese. It is the first weight-loss drug approved in the UK as a preventative treatment for those with "established cardiovascular disease".
The drug will be available to those who have a body mass index (BMI) score of at least 27 and who already have a form of heart disease. Nearly eight million Brits have heart disease and all of those who are overweight – about half, or four million people in the UK – could benefit from the jabs. The medicine makes people feel fuller and less hungry.
Clinical Trial Results
The approval comes after a new study found that the drug - taken as an injection once a week for up to five years - can lower a person's risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Some 17,600 people took part in the trial and were either prescribed Wegovy or a dummy drug, also known as a placebo. Researchers found that Wegovy, which is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20 per cent.
The MHRA approval is a step towards the drug being used in the NHS. Before it is used on a widespread basis in the health service it still needs to be appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
Shirley Hopper, MHRA's deputy director of innovative medicines, said: "We're assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for the approval of this medicine have been met. This treatment option that prevents heart disease and strokes is an important step forward in tackling the serious health consequences of obesity. As with all medicines, we will keep its safety under close review."
Expert Commentary
Commenting on the announcement, Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Nearly two-thirds of adults in England are living with excess weight or obesity. Those that also have an established cardiovascular disease live with a very high risk that a serious event like a heart attack or stroke could happen. Several recent studies have shown us that semaglutide is an effective tool that can improve the quality of life for those with cardiovascular disease, including by lowering the risk of serious cardiac events. It is important that people using the drug to lose weight and improve their health are given the support they need from healthcare professionals to maintain these improvements long into the future. Altogether, this can help save lives from the devastating impact of heart attacks and strokes."
Mechanism of Action
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite. To do this, semaglutide mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1. GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food.
Additional Benefits
Weight loss jabs can crush drug cravings in the same way they stop the urge to eat. The jabs are known to promote feelings of fullness and, it seems, dampen the reward associated not only with food but also drugs. A Penn University study found liraglutide was as good as a fortnight in rehab for people addicted to painkillers. Tests on 20 people recovering from opioid addictions revealed patients who took the jabs once a day rated cravings 40 per cent lower than those having rehab. While some patients experienced no cravings at all.
Supply Constraints
Earlier this year, Novo Nordisk warned over supply constraints as it said it was seeing strong demand for its obesity treatments around the world. In a statement responding to the new MHRA approval, the Danish company said: "This additional indication for Wegovy provides a treatment option to reduce cardiovascular risk in people with established cardiovascular disease living with overweight or obesity in Great Britain. Despite therapeutic advances in cardiovascular disease management, a significant ongoing need persists for treatment options that can address cardiovascular diseases in people living with overweight or obesity. Novo Nordisk intends to continue its discussions with health authorities to provide accessibility for those with the highest ongoing need. Novo Nordisk continues to provide a protected supply of Wegovy to the NHS with supply readily available. Non-NHS supply will continue to remain constrained and limited for the foreseeable future."
