By Dominic Chopping
The U.K.'s state-run healthcare system will offer Novo Nordisk's Wegovy weight-loss shot to over a million patients in England to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The decision comes after the country's independent health watchdog on Wednesday approved the drug for adults who have previously had a heart attack, stroke, or serious circulation problem in the legs, and who have a body mass index of at least 27.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence $(NICE)$ said that evidence from a clinical trial shows the injection reduces the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, with the benefit seen before significant weight loss occurred. This suggests the drug works directly on the heart and blood vessels, not just through weight loss, it said.
The trial showed that patients who took the treatment alongside existing medicines such as statins were 20% less likely to have a serious cardiovascular event than those who took a placebo.
"We know that people who have already had a heart attack or stroke are living with real fear that it could happen again," said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE.
"Today's decision gives thousands of people in that situation an extra layer of protection."
NICE said around 1.2 million people across England could be eligible for the once-weekly injection on top of existing medications and alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to help protect against further heart attacks or strokes.
Wegovy is already available on the National Health Service for patients that meet certain criteria, while Ozempic, which shares the same active ingredient, is also available to treat patients with type 2 diabetes.
The drug is set to be available on the NHS to help prevent heart attack and stroke "within months," NHS England said in a statement.
Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 01, 2026 03:25 ET (07:25 GMT)
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