UK Approves First Oral Wegovy for Weight Management
The United Kingdom has become the first country in Europe to approve Wegovy® pill (semaglutide tablets) for weight management, providing adults living with obesity or overweight a new oral treatment option as an alternative to injectable GLP-1 therapies.
The approval was granted by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), allowing the once-daily tablet to be prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher, or for individuals who are overweight with a BMI between 27 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² and at least one weight-related health condition.
The decision marks a significant milestone in obesity care, as Wegovy® pill becomes the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the UK specifically for chronic weight management. The approval is expected to broaden treatment choices for patients who may be reluctant to use injectable medications.
The MHRA’s decision was based on results from the Phase 3 OASIS 4 clinical trial, which evaluated semaglutide tablets 25 mg in 307 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related condition, excluding patients with diabetes. The study demonstrated substantial weight-loss benefits over a 64-week treatment period.
According to trial findings, participants receiving semaglutide tablets achieved an average weight reduction of 13.6% when treatment effects were assessed regardless of adherence, compared with 2.4% in the placebo group. In a separate analysis assuming all participants remained on treatment throughout the study, weight loss reached 16.6% for those taking semaglutide, compared with 2.7% for placebo recipients.
Researchers noted that the most commonly reported side effects were gastrointestinal in nature, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. These events were reported in 74% of participants receiving semaglutide compared with 42.2% of those receiving placebo. Most side effects were described as mild to moderate and temporary. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events occurred in 6.9% of participants receiving oral semaglutide, a rate consistent with previous studies involving injectable semaglutide formulations.
Sebnem Avsar Tuna, General Manager of Novo Nordisk UK, described the approval as an important step forward for obesity treatment. She said the availability of a daily oral GLP-1 therapy offers patients greater flexibility and choice in managing their weight over the long term.
Clinical experts also welcomed the decision. Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow, said the approval provides an important new option for individuals who prefer not to use injections. He highlighted the growing burden of obesity in the UK and the need for additional effective treatments to help patients achieve and maintain meaningful weight loss.
Novo Nordisk estimates that approximately 15 million people in the UK are living with obesity, yet only a small proportion currently receive treatment. Emil Kongshøj Larsen, Executive Vice President of International Operations at Novo Nordisk, said the company hopes the approval will improve access to obesity care and support more eligible patients in achieving their health goals.
The UK approval follows previous authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United Arab Emirates’ Emirates Drug Establishment. Novo Nordisk has already announced plans to introduce Wegovy® pill in selected international markets during the second half of 2026.
With obesity rates continuing to rise globally, the approval of an effective oral GLP-1 therapy is expected to play an important role in expanding access to evidence-based weight management treatments and addressing a major public health challenge.