Weight-loss jabs will be offered on NHS for people at risk of further heart attacks

Weight-loss jab Wegovy will be offered for free on the NHS to more than a million people in England at risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The watchdog NICE says people with these health issues, or serious circulation problems in their legs, and who are overweight, should have the weekly jab "as an extra layer of protection".

A GP or specialist will check if it is the right option for those already taking other heart medicines, such as statins, and alongside a healthy diet.

Drug trials suggest Wegovy can help slash the risk of future heart and circulation problems.

Importantly, benefits were seen early in the clinical trial, before significant weight loss occurred, suggesting the drug works directly on the heart and blood vessels, not just through weight loss, says NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).

Each year in the UK, there are around 100,000 hospital admissions due to heart attacks, another 100,000 people experience a stroke and around 350,000 people live with peripheral arterial disease.

People who have already had one of these health issues are at higher risk of experiencing more problems and stand to benefit from medicines that can cut that risk.

Disease might be prevented in around seven in 10 cases, experts estimate, based on best evidence.

Helen Knight, from NICE, said: "We know that people who have already had a heart attack or stroke are living with real fear that it could happen again.

"The evidence from the clinical trial is compelling. It showed that people taking semaglutide alongside their existing heart medicines were significantly less likely to have another heart attack or stroke.

"Today's decision gives thousands of people in that situation an extra layer of protection, on top of the medicines they are already taking."

Patients prescribed Wegovy will be able to self-administer the drug at home using a special pen injector device.

It is recommended for those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) classed as overweight or obese - higher or equal to 27.

Rollout should begin this summer.

The drug, also known as semaglutide, works as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that makes people feel fuller, which can help them lose weight.

It also slows down how quickly food is digested. Some people may experience bloating, nausea or discomfort as a side effect.

Doctors should also prescribe lifestyle changes that include eating healthily and getting enough exercise to help people keep the weight off.

Currently, treatment with Wegovy is limited to two years on the NHS through specialist services and its long-term risks are still being studied.

Many say the treatment should be considered life-long, given the risk of relapse.

NICE says the NHS has reached an agreement with the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk that makes the treatment, ensuring it will be cost-effective.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan from the British Heart Foundation said she hoped the injections could be made available to everyone who could benefit "as soon as possible".

Prof Robert Storey, an expert in heart health at the University of Sheffield, warned GLP-1 drugs could reduce muscle mass as well as fat.

"Physical activity, such as resistance training, is important to counteract potential negative effects on muscle strength," he added.

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