On Tuesday, the UKs Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted approval for Novo Nordisks Wegovy to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events in overweight and obese adults. This made Wegovy the first GLP-1 obesity drug in the UK to be prescribed for heart disease and stroke prevention.

This regulatory green light followed a similar expansion by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this year. Dr. Shirley Hopper, MHRA’s deputy director of innovative medicines, hailed the decision as a significant advance in combating obesity’s severe health impacts. 

Wegovy, previously approved in the UK for weight management, is now recognized for its role in preventing cardiovascular events. Results from the SELECT trial have shown that Wegovy cut major cardiovascular events by 20% compared to the placebo.

(Source:https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/23/novo-nordisks-wegovy-wins-uk-approval-for-use-to-reduce-heart-risks.html )