Oral Wegovy reaches UK private pharmacies as Novo Nordisk expands
Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy is now available in the UK through private pharmacies, signalling a shift in the European weight-loss drug market toward cheaper, needle-free alternatives that could significantly broaden consumer access.
A once-a-day oral version of Wegovy went on sale at high street and online pharmacies in the UK on Monday. The pill, made by Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, contains the same semaglutide ingredient as the injectable version. It is currently restricted to private prescriptions following a medical consultation, rather than being available through the state-funded NHS.
The launch represents a strategic expansion for Novo Nordisk as it competes with US rival Eli Lilly, which launched its own weight-loss pill, Foundayo, in the US in early April. Oral formulations are cheaper to produce and easier to distribute than injectable biologics. By offering a needle-free alternative, drugmakers are attempting to capture consumers who are reluctant to self-inject or travel frequently.
Pricing in the UK indicates a push for wider market access. A month’s supply of the Wegovy pill ranges from £69 for a low-dose, three-month bundle to £189 for the highest 25mg dose, working out to about £2.30 a day. This undercuts the injectable Wegovy, which sells for £79 to £250 monthly, and directly competes with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro jab, priced between £54 and £300 a month.
Consumer demand is already materialising. Juniper UK reported tens of thousands of people on its waiting list prior to launch. However, pharmacists emphasised that the pill is not a simple morning supplement. “The Wegovy pill is a major development because it gives patients another way to access semaglutide without self-injecting,” said Abdal Alvi, chief clinical officer at Simple Online Pharmacy.
“But it is not a tablet you can simply take with breakfast or your morning coffee. The way it is taken has a direct impact on how well the medication is absorbed, so patients need to understand the routine from day one,” Mr Alvi added. Patients must fast for eight hours, take it with a sip of water, and wait 30 minutes before eating or taking other medication.
The rapid rollout has also triggered warnings about illicit online operators capitalising on the drug's popularity. Megan Rannard at intellectual property law firm Marks & Clerk noted the proliferation of fraudulent websites. “There is a risk that these types of websites will sell consumers counterfeit pharmaceuticals which present a clear public health risk, or that these websites are a simply a front for other types of fraud or phishing scams,” she said.
In clinical trials, patients on the 25mg daily dose lost 14% to 17% of their body weight over 64 weeks. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has advised patients experiencing side effects to consult a medical professional and report them through its Yellow Card scheme.
