Health officials in the UK have given the green light for a weight-loss jab to be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in overweight people.

Semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy, has already been approved for weight management in people with obesity.

Now, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the drug for a new purpose – to help reduce the risk of heart problems in people who are overweight or obese.

It is the first weight-loss drug approved in the UK as a preventive treatment for those with “established cardiovascular disease”, the MHRA said.

This means that the drug can be prescribed to people with a body mass index (BMI) score of 27 or above who have already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease – a term which describes conditions relating to the heart of blood vessels.

The medicine makes people feel fuller and less hungry. It is prescribed for the treatment of obesity for weight management alongside diet, physical activity and behavioural support.

The approval comes after a new study found that the drug – taken as an injection once a week for up to five years – can lower a person’s risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

The 17,600 people who took part in the trial were either prescribed Wegovy or a dummy drug, also known as a placebo.

Researchers found that Wegovy, which is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20%.

The MHRA approval is a step towards the drug being used in the NHS. Before it is used on a widespread basis in the health service, it still needs to be appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).

Shirley Hopper, MHRA’s deputy director of innovative medicines, said: “We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for the approval of this medicine have been met.

“This treatment option that prevents heart disease and strokes is an important step forward in tackling the serious health consequences of obesity. As with all medicines, we will keep its safety under close review.”

Commenting on the announcement, Prof Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said:

“It is important that people using the drug to lose weight and improve their health are given the support they need from healthcare professionals to maintain these improvements long into the future.

“This means appropriate training and healthcare workforce development, along with policies to create a wider environment that supports everyone to stay as healthy as possible. Altogether, this can help save lives from the devastating impact of heart attacks and strokes.”

Prof Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said:

“Weight-loss drugs can be a key part of our arsenal to help tackle obesity and manage associated risks but, as global supply issues continue to affect these drugs, it is important that treatments are used correctly, in line with licensing, to ensure that patients with type 2 diabetes can receive the medicines they need.”