Wegovi tablets are the first oral GLP-1 weight loss pill to be approved in the UK, offering an injectable alternative for people with obesity.
This pill is for daily use by obese adults with a body mass index of 30 or more
Britain has given the green light to its first GLP-1 tablet designed for weight loss, the medicines regulator has confirmed. Vegovy (semaglutide) Tablet is for daily use by obese adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
People who are overweight along with an associated health problem, such as high blood pressure, will also be eligible for the treatment. The initial dose starts at 1.5 mg, gradually increasing to 4 mg, 9 mg, and eventually 25 mg. Individuals should remain at each dosage level for at least one month before progressing.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), people who are currently receiving private treatment with 2.4 mg Vegovy injections weekly can transition directly to the 25 mg daily tablets. The drug requires a doctor’s prescription and will become available through private channels in the coming weeks.
The NHS assessment has not yet been completed. Julian Beech, executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, commented: “Semaglutide tablets have been approved in the UK for weight loss and weight management, after meeting the MHRA’s rigorous standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.”
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Wegovi tablets should be swallowed on an empty stomach with a small amount of water after fasting for at least eight hours. Patients should then avoid consuming any food or beverages for at least 30 minutes, as this may interfere with the absorption of the medicine into the system.
The MHRA has given the drug the green light following the results of the trial, where participants took 25 mg daily while maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regime. Over a 64-week period, those who continued taking the tablets lost an average of 17% of their body weight, while those taking a placebo lost only 3%.
Taking into account all trial participants – including those who discontinued treatment – the average weight loss was 14%. The most commonly reported side effects of the drug are of a digestive nature, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.
Sebenem Avsar Tuna, general manager of Novo Nordisk, said: “This is an important milestone for obesity care in the UK.
“For the first time, people with obesity have access to GLP-1 treatment in a daily pill, allowing them the choice and flexibility of oral treatment to aid long-term weight management.”
Professor Navid Sattar, from the University of Glasgow, said: “The approval of a once-daily oral form of Vegovy (semaglutide) is welcome news for people with obesity, especially those who would prefer not to use injections.
“In a climate of increasing obesity it is important to expand the range of effective treatments to help people consistently reduce calorie intake.
“With obesity rates in the UK now at very high levels, and associated with substantial multimorbidity, there is a great need for additional treatment options for sustained weight loss.”
James O’Loan, chief executive of Chemists4U, commented: “The launch of oral weight loss medicines will be game-changing for UK patients.
“We have already seen record demand ahead of the expected launch of the Wegovi pill in the coming months, with more than 10,000 people joining our waiting list for a consultation.
“Notably, the majority of people expressing interest in the launch of the weight loss pills have not used GLP-1s before, indicating that this launch could expand access to millions of people across the country.
“Weight loss pills are a great option for people who don’t feel comfortable using injections and many will find that a daily pill feels more familiar and is easier to fit into their routine.
“We expect demand for weight loss pills will only increase as potential patients become aware of them in the coming weeks and months.”
Dr Kieran Seyan, Chief Medical Officer of Pharmacy2U, reacted positively to the development, saying: “As public interest in medicinal weight management grows, it is increasingly important that patients use reputable clinical services rather than unregulated online sources or counterfeit products.”
Olivier Picard, president of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), described the announcement as “very important” and suggested it would have “a major impact on people trying to achieve a healthy weight through weight loss treatment”. He expressed the NPA’s concerns about the “growing black market for counterfeit weight loss treatments”, as it is potentially easy for criminals to counterfeit the drug in tablet form.
He added: “Patients should only receive weight loss medication properly prescribed and dispensed by a regulated pharmacy. “Unregulated providers may sell counterfeit medicines or medicines that do not meet our strict safety standards in the UK. “.
Leave a Reply