The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the UK’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss and weight management on 11 June 2026.
The approval applies across the UK and covers semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, in tablet form. The medicine may be prescribed to eligible adults when used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
The MHRA said semaglutide tablets for weight loss and weight management remain prescription-only medicines. NHS availability has not yet been confirmed and any future commissioning decisions will follow established assessment processes, including NICE evaluation.
MHRA approves first UK GLP-1 weight loss tablet
The MHRA confirmed that the semaglutide tablet is now approved for weight loss and weight management in the UK. The authorisation adds an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist option to the prescription-only treatment landscape.
The approval was granted on 11 June 2026 to Novo Nordisk for the new indication for the semaglutide tablet. The MHRA said it will continue to keep the safety and effectiveness of the medicine under close review.
- Medicine type: semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to support weight reduction alongside diet and lifestyle measures.
- Regulatory position: the tablet has been approved for UK use after MHRA assessment of safety, quality and effectiveness.
- Availability position: the tablet is approved but is not currently available through the NHS.
Who may be prescribed the treatment
The tablet may be prescribed to adults in the UK with obesity, defined in the release as a Body Mass Index of 30 or above. It may also be prescribed to adults who are overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related comorbidity.
The medicine is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The approval does not remove the requirement for clinical assessment, as the MHRA said the medicine remains prescription-only.
Eligibility For Semaglutide Tablet Use
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| BMI 30 or above | Eligible adult group | The MHRA said adults with obesity may be prescribed the tablet for weight loss and weight management. |
| BMI 27 to 30 | Eligible with comorbidity | The MHRA said adults in this range must also have at least one weight-related comorbidity. |
| Diet and activity | Required alongside treatment | The release states the tablet is used with reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. |
How the tablet is taken
The starting dose for the semaglutide tablet is 1.5 mg once daily. The dose then increases to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg, with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level.
Patients currently treated privately with a 2.4 mg semaglutide injection once weekly can be transitioned straight to semaglutide 25 mg tablets once daily. The MHRA said patients should follow the Patient Information Leaflet for the medicine to be most effective.
- Fasting period: the tablet should be taken after fasting for at least eight hours.
- How to take: the tablet should be swallowed whole on an empty stomach with a sip of water.
- After dosing: no food or drink should be taken for at least thirty minutes after the tablet.
Prescription status and NHS availability
The MHRA said that, as with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide tablets for weight loss and weight management are prescription-only. This means access depends on prescribing by an appropriate healthcare professional.
The tablet is approved for use in the UK but is not currently available through the NHS. Decisions on NHS use will follow established processes, including evaluation by NICE.
Approval And Access Position
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| UK approval | Granted on 11 June 2026 | The MHRA approved the semaglutide tablet for weight loss and weight management. |
| NHS access | Not currently available | The MHRA said NHS use will follow established processes, including NICE evaluation. |
| Authorisation holder | Novo Nordisk | The notes to editors state authorisation for the new indication was granted to Novo Nordisk. |
Safety advice and side effects
The MHRA said eating or drinking less than 30 minutes after taking a semaglutide tablet lowers its absorption. Patients are advised to follow the instructions in the Patient Information Leaflet.
The most common side effects of the medicine are gastrointestinal disorders, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect should talk to a doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Stakeholder Comments
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.”
The approval gives clinicians a new oral prescription-only option for eligible adults using semaglutide for weight loss and weight management.
The MHRA has set out dosing, administration and safety advice, while confirming the treatment is not currently available through the NHS. Any future NHS use will be considered through established assessment routes, including NICE evaluation.
Sources: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
