Oral Wegovy Approved in the UK — What Does This Mean for Patients in Cardiff?
On 11 June 2026, the MHRA approved oral Wegovy (semaglutide tablets) for weight loss and weight management in the UK — making it the first GLP-1 tablet licenced for obesity in Europe. For patients in Cardiff who have been waiting for a needle-free alternative to weight loss injections, this is a significant development. As a pharmacist independent prescriber, I have been following the development of oral semaglutide closely. In this post I will explain what the approval means in practice, who is eligible, how the tablet compares to the injection, what the evidence shows, and what you need to know if you are considering it.What Exactly Has Been Approved?
The MHRA has granted a UK marketing authorisation to Novo Nordisk for semaglutide tablets under the brand name Wegovy, in four strengths: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg. This is a once-daily tablet taken by mouth, licensed for weight loss and weight maintenance alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The tablet is licensed for adults who have:- A BMI of 30 or above (obesity)
- A BMI of 27 to 29.9 (overweight) with at least one weight-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obstructive sleep apnoea
How Effective Is the Wegovy Tablet?
The OASIS 4 trial studied 307 adults with obesity or overweight (with at least one weight-related condition) who did not have type 2 diabetes. All participants also followed a reduced-calorie diet and structured exercise plan. After 64 weeks:- Participants who adhered to treatment lost an average of approximately 16.6% of their body weight, compared with 2.7% in the placebo group
- Around one in three participants achieved at least 20% weight loss
How Does the Oral Wegovy Tablet Work?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released by the gut after eating. By acting on appetite-regulating areas of the brain, it helps you feel fuller for longer, reduces hunger, and decreases food cravings. The result is that you eat less, which leads to sustained weight loss when combined with dietary and lifestyle changes. The oral formulation works in the same way as the injection. The key difference is the route of administration: a daily tablet instead of a weekly injection.What Is the Dosing Schedule?
The dose is increased gradually over four months to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects:| Month | Daily dose | Notes |
| Month 1 | 1.5 mg | Starting dose |
| Month 2 | 4 mg | First increase |
| Month 3 | 9 mg | Second increase |
| Month 4 onward | 25 mg | Maintenance dose — do not exceed |
How Do You Take the Tablet?
This is one of the most important things patients need to understand, because how you take this tablet directly affects how well it works. The instructions are more specific than for most medicines:- Take on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours (overnight is ideal)
- Swallow the tablet whole with a small sip of water (up to 120 ml). Do not split, crush, or chew it
- Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medicines
What Are the Side Effects?
The side effect profile is consistent with the injectable version and with the GLP-1 class of medicines generally. The most commonly reported effects are gastrointestinal:- Very common (more than 1 in 10): nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, headache, fatigue, and indigestion. These tend to be most noticeable during dose titration and usually improve over time
- Common (up to 1 in 10): dizziness, bloating, flatulence, reflux, gastritis, gallstones, hair loss, and changes in taste
- Uncommon (up to 1 in 100): acute pancreatitis (seek immediate medical attention for severe, persistent abdominal pain), kidney or bladder stones
Is Oral Wegovy Available on the NHS?
Not at present. The MHRA approval means the tablet can now be legally prescribed in the UK, but NHS availability is a separate process. NICE will need to carry out a health technology appraisal before oral Wegovy can be routinely offered through the NHS. That process typically takes months. However, Novo Nordisk has indicated that oral Wegovy will be available via private prescription within weeks of the MHRA approval. For patients in Cardiff who are eligible and wish to start treatment before NHS availability is confirmed, a private consultation with a qualified prescriber is the route.What Does This Mean for Patients in Cardiff?
This approval gives patients in Cardiff a genuine choice for the first time. Until now, if you wanted clinically proven GLP-1 treatment for weight loss, an injection was the only licensed option. A daily tablet is a fundamentally different experience, and for many people — particularly those with a needle phobia, those who travel frequently, or those who simply prefer taking a tablet — it will be the deciding factor in seeking treatment. At Hopwoods Pharmacy in Cardiff, we already offer weight management consultations with a pharmacist independent prescriber. Once oral Wegovy becomes available to order through pharmacy supply chains, we will be able to assess, prescribe, and supply it as part of our existing weight management service. In the meantime, if you are considering weight loss treatment and want to discuss whether you might be a candidate for the oral formulation when it becomes available — or whether to start on the injectable version now — I am happy to have that conversation. We have not been giving pricing information by NovoNordisk. Hopwoods Pharmacy strives to remain competitive and affordable for our patients in Cardiff. We will let you know once the pricing structure of our oral wegovy service has been finalised.How Do I Access Oral Wegovy from Hopwoods Pharmacy
At the moment, NovoNordisk have not started supply to UK Pharmacies. We are expecting to receive our initial stock within the next few weeks. [Sign up to waiting list here]
Written by Jake Groves (Prescribing Pharmacist)
References
- MHRA — First GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UK (gov.uk, 11 June 2026)
- Novo Nordisk — Wegovy pill (semaglutide tablets) becomes first daily GLP-1 weight-loss pill approved in the UK (GlobeNewswire, 11 June 2026)
- Novo Nordisk — Wegovy (semaglutide) tablets: Patient Information Leaflet (June 2026)
- OASIS 4 phase 3 clinical trial — Efficacy and safety of once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg in adults with overweight or obesity