The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the UK’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss and weight management.
The semaglutide (Wegovy) tablet can be prescribed to adults with obesity (BMI of 30 or above) or those who are overweight (BMI 27-30) with at least one weight-related comorbidity, alongside diet and exercise measures.
The starting dose for the semaglutide tablet is 1.5 mg once daily, increasing to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level.
The once-daily tablet offers an alternative to injectable semaglutide and can be used by patients transitioning from private treatment with weekly 2.4mg injections.
The prescription-only medicine will not be available on the NHS immediately, pending evaluation by NICE. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
The approval represents another milestone in the UK's rapidly evolving obesity treatment landscape, with oral GLP-1 therapies expected to improve accessibility and provide greater flexibility for eligible patients seeking clinically supported weight management.
This follows the FDA’s landmark approval, in January this year, of the first glp-1 pill in the United States. Throughout the 72-week study, all prespecified weight and cardiometabolic measures significantly improved with patients using the medication, orforglipron.
