MHRA approves Wegovy oral weight‑loss pill in UK
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- MHRA approved the Wegovy oral semaglutide tablet, the first GLP-1 receptor agonist pill for weight loss, making the UK the third country after the US and UAE to authorize it.
- Novo Nordisk executive Emil Kongshøj Larsen called the approval a landmark, noting the UK is the first European nation to approve the Wegovy pill and that it should increase access to obesity care.
- NICE has not yet approved the Wegovy tablets, so they will not be available on the NHS and patients will need a private prescription.
- Wegovy tablets will be started at 1.5 mg with monthly escalations to 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg; existing injection users can switch directly to the 25 mg tablet if suitable.
- Wegovy price has not yet been agreed; private prescriptions for the injectable cost £90‑£300 a month, and patients hope the pill will be cheaper.
- Chemist4U head of pharmacy Jason Murphy said the pill could be life‑changing for those who dislike injections and expects demand to be high, given about 2.5 million people already use weight‑loss injections.
- Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown warned the medication is not a magic solution and must be part of a broader approach to healthy weight management including nutrition, activity and behavioural support.
Why it matters: Patients who struggle with injections now have a daily pill option, potentially lowering out‑of‑pocket costs and increasing adherence, while the NHS awaits NICE’s assessment before covering it. The approval also signals a broader shift toward oral GLP‑1 therapies in Europe.
