Daily Wegovy tablet approved in UK
People in the UK could soon have access to a pill version of Wegovy after regulators approved the medication for prescription use, making it the first oral GLP-1 weight-loss treatment of its kind to receive authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Developed by Novo Nordisk, the once-daily tablet provides an alternative to the weekly injectable formulation of semaglutide.
In addition to removing the need for injections, the tablets can be stored at room temperature and do not require refrigeration.
Despite receiving regulatory approval, the treatment will not be available on the NHS immediately.
A recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) would be needed before routine NHS access could be considered.
NICE has said the company has not yet submitted the tablets for assessment but that it is “in active dialogue” with Novo Nordisk.
Private patients may be able to access the medication sooner, with several high street and online pharmacies preparing to introduce it through their prescribing services.
Under MHRA guidance, people should begin on a 1.5mg daily dose before increasing gradually to 4mg, 9mg and then 25mg, spending at least one month at each stage.
Those already using private 2.4mg weekly semaglutide injections can move directly to the 25mg daily tablet.
The tablets should be taken on an empty stomach and have already been introduced in the United States.
Competing oral weight-management medicines are also being developed by other pharmaceutical manufacturers.
While UK pricing has not yet been announced, the introductory 1.5mg dose was launched in the US at $149 per month, equivalent to around £110.
Like the injectable version of Wegovy, the tablet contains semaglutide, which works by copying the effects of the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone.
This helps suppress appetite and slow digestion, supporting weight loss by helping people feel fuller for longer.
Commenting on the approval, Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, described it as “significant”, noting that it may provide an important option for those who cannot or would rather not use injections.
He also said the tablet could make treatment more affordable over time, adding: “Pharmacies are awaiting further guidance about when this treatment will be available for patients.”