Pharmac's cardiovascular team recommends funding Wegovy for some people

Pharmac's cardiovascular experts have recommended funding a weightloss drug for people with cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more as a high priority.

The drug is already in use in New Zealand, but unfunded, meaning patients must cover the cost.

In May, Pharmac added the brand of semaglutide known as Wegovy to its list of medicines suitable for future funding, specifically for weight loss - but this, too, remained unfunded, leaving patients to cover the full cost.

This most recent recommendation, which comes from the drug funding agency's cardiovascular advisory committee, is a "high-level provisional outcome", so it does not reveal the reasons behind the recommendation, or how many New Zealanders would qualify for treatment if the drug was funded for this purpose.

Novo, the company behind Wegovy, said in a statement it welcomed the decision.

"Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in New Zealand, highlighting the importance of improving access to evidence-based treatment options for people living with this condition," it said.

According to Health NZ, roughly a third of New Zealanders over 15 years of age were considered obese, giving New Zealand one of the highest adult obesity rates in the OECD.

Cardiovascular disease was responsible for almost one in three deaths in New Zealand, and maintaining a healthy weight could help manage cardiovascular risk.