MHRA Approves UK’s First GLP-1 Weight Loss Tablet

The UK’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss and weight management has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), marking a significant development in obesity treatment and offering patients an alternative to injectable therapies.

The approval allows oral semaglutide (Wegovy) to be prescribed to eligible adults alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity programme.

The tablet is approved for adults with obesity, defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, as well as overweight adults with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have at least one weight-related comorbidity.

The approval represents the first time a GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet has been licensed in the UK specifically for weight loss and weight management.

Alternative to Weekly Injections

Until now, patients prescribed semaglutide for weight management have typically received the medication via weekly injections. The new oral formulation offers a non-injectable option, which could appeal to patients seeking a more convenient treatment pathway.

Patients will begin treatment on a dose of 1.5mg once daily before gradually increasing to 4mg, 9mg and ultimately 25mg, with a minimum of one month spent on each dose level.

Those currently receiving private treatment with semaglutide 2.4mg injections once weekly may be transitioned directly to semaglutide 25mg tablets once daily.

MHRA Welcomes Approval

Commenting on the decision, Julian Beach, Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access at the MHRA, said: “Having met the MHRA’s rigorous standards of safety, quality and effectiveness, the semaglutide tablet has been approved in the UK for weight loss and weight management.

“As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication.”

Growing Demand for Medical Weight Management

The approval comes amid continued growth in demand for medically supervised weight management treatments across the UK, including within the medical aesthetics sector where many clinics now offer obesity and weight-loss services alongside traditional aesthetic treatments.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the naturally occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. The medication acts on areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation, helping patients feel fuller for longer, reducing hunger and decreasing food cravings.

The result is reduced calorie intake and clinically significant weight loss when combined with appropriate lifestyle changes.

Important Administration Guidance

The MHRA has stressed the importance of following the medication’s administration instructions to maximise effectiveness.

Patients must take the tablet whole on an empty stomach after fasting for at least eight hours and use only a small sip of water. No food or drink should be consumed for at least 30 minutes afterwards, as eating or drinking sooner can reduce absorption of the medicine.

NHS Availability Yet to Be Determined

While the treatment has now received regulatory approval, it is not currently available through the NHS.

Any future NHS rollout will be subject to the usual assessment process, including evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

As with injectable semaglutide treatments, the most commonly reported side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.

The MHRA said it will continue to closely monitor the medicine’s safety and effectiveness following its approval.

The introduction of an oral semaglutide option is expected to further expand the UK’s rapidly evolving weight management market and provide eligible patients with greater choice in how they access GLP-1 treatment.