New Heart-Health Breakthrough: Semaglutide Gets MHRA Green Light
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given the go-ahead for semaglutide (sold as Wegovy by Novo Nordisk) to be used not just for weight loss, but now to slash cardiovascular risks in overweight and obese adults with heart disease or stroke history.
First Weight Loss Drug Approved to Cut Heart Attack and Stroke Risk
This is a major milestone. Semaglutide is now the first weight-loss medication authorised to prevent serious cardiovascular events — including death, heart attack, and stroke — in people with a BMI of 27 or higher who already have established cardiovascular disease.
The MHRA’s decision follows a massive global study of over 17,600 patients, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 11 November 2023. The trial revealed that weekly 2.4mg doses of semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% versus placebo.
Experts Hail Approval as Game-Changer for Heart Patients
This is particularly vital for our local patient population and globally, as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death,” said Paul Wright, consultant pharmacist at Barts Health NHS Trust. “Semaglutide offers a promising intervention for a patient group that historically relies on multiple medications to manage health risks.”
The US FDA had already given similar approval for Wegovy back in March 2023, highlighting semaglutide’s potential benefits on heart health beyond weight loss alone.
Supply Woes Threaten Access Amid Growing Demand
But the breakthrough comes as the drug faces heavy demand worldwide, causing shortages. Rani Khatib, consultant pharmacist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, warned of supply pressures and limited access to weight management services needed to deliver the medication effectively.
Health officials and policymakers must now tackle these hurdles to fully harness semaglutide’s life-saving potential in fighting obesity-related heart disease.
