The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new indication for semaglutide (Wegovy) to reduce the risk of overweight and obese adults suffering serious heart problems or strokes.
Semaglutide is the first weight loss drug approved in the UK as a preventative treatment for those with established cardiovascular disease, This medicine, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was already approved for use in the treatment of obesity and for weight management, to be used alongside diet, physical activity and behavioural support. The approval means that semaglutide is the first weight loss drug to be prescribed to prevent cardiovascular events, such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack and non-fatal stroke, in people with established cardiovascular disease and a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher or equal to 27 kg/m2.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. It is usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots. CVD is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.
The approval is based on new data from a post-approval clinical study which demonstrated that semaglutide (2.4 mg once weekly by subcutaneous injection, for up to five years) lowers the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) vs placebo. In a multi-national, multi-centre, placebo-controlled double-blind trial that randomly assigned over 17,600 participants to receive either Wegovy or a placebo, Wegovy significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20%, such as cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke, which occurred in 6.5% of participants who received Wegovy compared to 8% of participants who received placebo.
The treatment is taken as a solution for injection in a pre-filled pen. The active ingredient, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This mimics the action of the GLP-1 hormone, which is involved in regulating blood sugar levels. Semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors on pancreatic cells, enhancing the insulin secretion in response to meals, reducing glucagon release and slowing the gastric emptying process. This helps to promote weight loss.
The most common side effects of the medicine are gastrointestinal disorders including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
As with any medicine, the MHRA keeps the safety and effectiveness of semaglutide under close review. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
