UK Approves Wegovy for Reducing Heart Risks in Overweight Patients

First weight-loss drug in the UK approved to prevent cardiovascular events in those with established heart disease.

Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, is now approved for use in the UK to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in overweight individuals.
The drug, already used for weight management, showed a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events in a recent study.
The approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency marks a significant step in addressing the health impacts of obesity.
The drug will need further appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence before widespread NHS use.
Global supply constraints continue to affect availability, with non-NHS supply remaining limited.