If you thought slimming jabs had made a big splash, brace yourself, as the next big shake-up of weight-loss remedies is around the corner.
The same medicine in Wegovy weight-loss injections, called semaglutide, is about to reach the UK in pill form – and is likely to be even more popular.
Several previous weight-loss pills have gone on sale, but these have always previously been ineffective or caused dangerous side effects.
The more recent weight-loss injections work in a new way, by mimicking hormones released after eating that reduce hunger and make people feel fuller.
Although two have been approved in the UK, Wegovy and Mounjaro, the NHS has been slow to roll them out.
As a result, most people have been buying them through online pharmacies, with 1 to 2 million people currently thought to be accessing the weekly jabs this way.
The manufacturer of Wegovy has now managed to develop a pill version. This is on sale in the US, and approval in the UK is thought to be imminent.
Tablets could lead more people to trying out the medicine, as some dislike the idea of giving themselves injections, said Dr Mitra Dutt, a GP with LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, one of the website providers.
“It may appeal to a different cohort of patients, patients who were put off by injections, and they feel a tablet is preferable,” she said. “Needle phobia is a real thing.”
In the US, 70 to 80 per cent of people who started taking Wegovy tablets this year had not previously used weight-loss injections, suggesting the oral formulation will attract new users, said Dr Dutt.
“That speaks volumes,” she said. “It may not be exactly the same percentages here, but it gives you an indication that this may appeal to people who would consider weight-loss therapy, but an injection just wasn’t for them.”
The pills may also be cheaper than the jabs, which cost from £200 to £300 for the usual maintenance doses of Wegovy and Mounjaro respectively. The jabs start off cheaper for the lower doses, but the amount is generally raised each month until the highest maintenance dose is reached.
The exact price of Wegovy tablets in the UK will only be known once online pharmacies learn how much manufacturer Novo Nordisk will be charging for them, which the firm has not yet announced.
Strict dosing instructions must be followed
The Wegovy pills are not straightforward to take, though. Semaglutide can be damaged by stomach acid, so the oral version had to be designed in a special formulation.
In the pills, semaglutide is combined with a substance called SNAC, which temporarily reduces acidity in the stomach. It also boosts absorption of semaglutide through the stomach lining.
This means that people must take the pills immediately on wakening in the morning, on an empty stomach. The tablet must be washed down no more than 120 millilitres of water, and no other food or medications can be taken for half an hour.
“It’s very specific instructions,” said Dr Dutt. “The tablets are every day, so you have to keep to that criteria every day. That might be off-putting for some people.”
The Wegovy pills also aren’t quite as potent as the injections, causing about 14 per cent weight-loss in trials.
The usual maintenance dose of Wegovy injections, of 2.4 milligrams, lead to about 14 per cent weight-loss, but a new triple dose of injectable Wegovy was approved this year, which causes 19 per cent weight-loss. Mounjaro injections lead to about 20 per cent weight-loss.
Twice as many want tablets as jabs
A recent survey by another online pharmacy, Numan, found that of people considering medical weight-loss therapies, half would be interested in tablets, while only a quarter would consider injections.
“There are many people who have wanted support with their weight for years but have struggled with the idea of injectable treatment,” said Dr Tsol Tsogbayar, clinical product lead at Numan.
Another brand of weight-loss pill containing a drug called orforglipron may also launch in the UK this year. This does not have to be taken on an empty stomach.
Dr Dutt said the availability of both tablets and injections would give patients more choice. “Patients can choose what suits them best,” she said.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said: “Novo Nordisk is in discussion with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for UK regulatory approval and commercial launch of oral semaglutide 25mg once-daily in 2026. We are unable to communicate the exact time or month at this stage.”
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