Weight loss pills in the UK: what is approved

On 11 June 2026 the MHRA approved a semaglutide tablet for weight management, the first GLP-1 tablet for weight loss licensed in the UK. It is the same active medicine as the Wegovy injection, taken daily by mouth rather than weekly by injection, so the dosing is different. It is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. The MHRA notice states it is approved for use in the UK but not currently available on the NHS.

On 10 August 2026 the MHRA authorised orforglipron, brand name Foundayo, for weight management and type 2 diabetes, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve it. It is a once-daily small-molecule GLP-1 tablet from a different maker. The eligibility is the same shape, a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 30 with a weight-related condition, with diet and activity. As with the Wegovy tablet, it is not available on the NHS at launch, and the MHRA says it will keep its safety and effectiveness under close review. Being first in Europe is orforglipron’s distinction; the first oral GLP-1 approved in the UK was the Wegovy tablet.

Three different things get confused here, so it is worth separating them:

• MHRA approval means the medicine is judged safe and effective enough to be prescribed in the UK.
• Availability is when a provider can actually dispense it, which rolls out after approval and varies between pharmacies.
• NHS funding is a separate decision that turns on a NICE appraisal. A licence does not guarantee the NHS will pay for it.

This area moves quickly. For the current position, check the MHRA and NICE notices below, and check any provider on the register before you buy.

• See whether an NHS route may apply to you with the NHS weight loss checker.
• Understand the cost of the established options in what Mounjaro and Wegovy cost.
• Check a provider against the register before buying anything.

Can I get a weight loss pill in the UK now?

Two are approved by the MHRA: the oral semaglutide (Wegovy) tablet, approved in June 2026, and orforglipron (Foundayo), authorised in August 2026. Approval means they can be prescribed in the UK. Private availability is rolling out separately, and neither is funded on the NHS yet. A registered provider assesses whether one is appropriate for you.

Is the Wegovy pill the same as the Wegovy injection?

It is the same medicine, semaglutide, in a daily tablet instead of a weekly injection. The dosing and the step-up are different, so it is not a like-for-like swap. A prescriber decides the form and dose.

How is orforglipron different from the Wegovy pill?

They are different medicines from different makers. Orforglipron (Foundayo, from Eli Lilly) is a once-daily small-molecule GLP-1 tablet, authorised for both weight management and type 2 diabetes. The Wegovy tablet is semaglutide (from Novo Nordisk). Both are oral; which, if either, is suitable is a clinical decision.

Is either on the NHS?

Not yet. An MHRA licence lets a medicine be prescribed; NHS funding is a separate decision that depends on a NICE appraisal. Until then, access is private, through a registered provider.

Is Rybelsus a weight loss pill?

No. Rybelsus is oral semaglutide licensed for type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. The weight loss tablet is the separately approved oral Wegovy.

• GOV.UK: first GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UK (11 June 2026)
• GOV.UK: UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron (10 August 2026)
• NICE: guidance and appraisals

From the MHRA and NICE as of 3 November 2026. Licensing and availability change; check the current position. This is factual reference, not medical advice.