Wegovy weight-loss pill approved in UK, with prescription needed

A pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy has been approved in the UK, meaning people can soon buy it with a prescription.

It is the first tablet of its kind to get cleared by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Manufacturer Novo Nordisk says the once-a-day tablet could be more convenient for some people than injecting themselves weekly with GLP-1 medication that blunts appetite. And, unlike the jab, the pills do not need to be kept in the fridge.

However, it will not be available on the NHS until experts can assess and decide if that should be recommended.

The body that would make that decision - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - said Novo Nordisk had not yet approached them about it, but they were "in active dialogue" with the company.

Some high street and online pharmacies plan to add it to their doctor prescribing services in the coming weeks.

The MHRA says the starting dose for the tablet is 1.5 mg once daily, escalating to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level.

Patients currently treated privately with a 2.4 mg semaglutide injection once weekly can be transitioned straight to semaglutide 25 mg tablets once daily.

The tablets, which should be taken on an empty stomach, are already available in the US. Other drug companies already have or are working on rivals.

The cost of Wegovy pills in the UK is not yet known, but when they launched in the US the manufacturer listed the starting dose of 1.5 mg at $149 (around £110) a month.

Similar to its injection form, the tablets contain semaglutide that works by mimicking the actions of a natural hormone called GLP-1 that suppresses appetite and slows digestion to keep you feeling fuller and less hungry.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association called the approval of the pill "significant", adding that it could help patients who are unable or do not wish to take the injectable version.

The pill may also bring down the cost of treatment in the longer term, he said.

"Pharmacies are awaiting further guidance about when this treatment will be available for patients", he added.

Trials show they are safe and work, although - like the jab - it can take several months to get full benefits and there is the risk that weight may go back on after you stop the medication.

People on weight loss medication should also eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise.

GLP-1 drugs are not meant for a short-term or cosmetic weight loss, and health experts strongly advise against using them as a quick-fix to get "beach body" ready, although it is clear people do misuse them.