Oral Weight Loss Breakthrough
UK Regulator MHRA Approves Wegovy Pill, Offering New Weight Loss Convenience
Key Points
Novo Nordisk said the UK is the medicine’s third major regulatory approval after the U.S. and the U.A.E.
MHRA approved specific step-up dosing levels for the tablet: 1.5 mg once daily, increasing to 4 mg, then 9 mg, and finally 25 mg (with at least one month at each dose).
The MHRA outlined how the pill should be taken for absorption: swallow the tablet whole on an empty stomach after at least an eight-hour fasting period, and avoid food or drink for at least 30 minutes afterward.
MHRA healthcare quality and access executive director Julian Beach said the semaglutide tablet was approved after meeting “the MHRA’s rigorous standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.”
Beyond the headline 17% vs 3% (remaining on treatment), reporting also included outcomes when all trial participants were included regardless of continued treatment: average weight loss was 14%.
The UK has approved Wegovy in pill form, making it the first country in Europe to clear an oral version of the weight-loss drug semaglutide. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency announced the decision on June 11, with Novo Nordisk expecting private prescriptions to be available within weeks, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The once-daily tablet targets adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or BMI 27 to 30 paired with a weight-related health condition. It must be used alongside diet and exercise. The NHS has not yet assessed it — that requires a separate review by NICE, the UK's cost-effectiveness body, according to The Grocer.
Trial Results That Drove the MHRA Decision
The approval rests on the OASIS 4 Phase 3 trial, which followed 307 adults over 64 weeks. Patients who stayed on treatment lost an average of 17% of their body weight. Those on a placebo lost just 3%, according to MarketScreener.
When all trial participants were counted — including those who dropped out or missed doses — average weight loss was 14%. Around 74% of participants reported gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. MHRA Executive Director Julian Beach said the tablet met the agency's "rigorous standards of safety, quality and effectiveness," according to Pharmacy.biz.
How the Pill Works and How to Take It
Dosing starts at 1.5 mg once daily. Patients then step up to 4 mg, then 9 mg, and finally 25 mg — spending at least one month at each level. The gradual increase helps the body adjust and reduces side effects, according to The Grocer.
Taking the pill correctly is strict. Patients must swallow it whole on an empty stomach after at least eight hours without food. They must then wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything. Missing these steps cuts how much of the drug the body absorbs. Patients already on the 2.4 mg weekly injection can skip the step-up and switch straight to the 25 mg tablet, according to The Wall Street Journal.
UK Beats Europe to Approval in Post-Brexit Race
The UK is only the third country to approve the Wegovy pill, after the US and the UAE. The US FDA cleared it in December 2025, and Novo Nordisk launched it there in January 2026 at $149 per month. Emil Kongshøj Larsen, Novo Nordisk's EVP of International Operations, noted the UK is the "first country in Europe" to approve it, according to MarketScreener.
The move is part of Novo Nordisk's push to regain leadership in the obesity drug market. Rival Eli Lilly's Zepbound has taken ground with its injectable treatment. Analysts at Morningstar estimate the oral pill could add over $2.7 billion to Wegovy's global sales by 2030, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Private Prescriptions First, NHS Pathway Still Unclear
The pill will first reach patients through private providers such as Superdrug and Boots. Private injectable Wegovy currently costs between £90 and £300 per month. Tablets could eventually cost less because they are cheaper to make and ship — no refrigeration needed, unlike injectable pens, according to The Grocer.
There are cautions too. Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, welcomed the approval but warned the pill may be "easier to counterfeit" than injectable pens, potentially feeding a "growing black market." MHRA stressed it remains a prescription-only medicine, according to Pharmacy.biz.
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