A new daily weight-loss pill has been approved for use in the UK, marking a significant development in the treatment of obesity and offering an alternative to the injections that have become increasingly popular in recent years.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised a tablet version of semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in the widely known Wegovy weight-loss injection.
The approval makes the UK the first country in Europe to authorise the daily tablet for weight management.
The medication is designed for adults who are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or for those with a BMI between 27 and 30 who also have at least one weight-related health condition.
Experts say the introduction of a tablet could make treatment more accessible for people who are reluctant to use injections. Unlike the injectable version, the tablets do not require refrigeration and can be taken as part of a daily routine.
Semaglutide belongs to a group of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs mimic a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps regulate appetite and digestion. By slowing the rate at which food leaves the stomach and helping people feel fuller for longer, the medication can reduce calorie intake and support weight loss.
Clinical trials found that patients taking the tablets lost an average of around 17 per cent of their body weight over a period of just over a year. For some participants, that equated to almost three stone.
The approval comes as obesity continues to present a major public health challenge. More than 16 million adults in the UK are estimated to be living with obesity, while many millions more are classified as overweight.
The new tablet will initially be available only through prescription services. High street pharmacies and online healthcare providers have already begun preparing for demand, with some opening waiting lists for prospective patients.
However, the treatment is not yet available on the NHS. Before that can happen, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will need to assess the medication and determine whether it represents value for money and should be recommended for routine NHS use.
The MHRA said the medicine had met the regulator’s standards for safety, quality and effectiveness. Patients will begin on a low daily dose which is gradually increased over several months to reach the full treatment level.
Doctors have stressed that the medication is intended for people living with obesity and related health conditions, rather than those seeking rapid cosmetic weight loss. As with existing GLP-1 treatments, users are advised to combine the medication with a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Like all medicines, the treatment can cause side effects. The most commonly reported include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
Healthcare professionals have welcomed the approval, saying it provides another option for people struggling with obesity and could help broaden access to effective treatment.
Several pharmaceutical companies are also developing competing weight-loss tablets, meaning patients may see a wider range of oral treatments become available in the coming years.
The UK price of the new tablets has not yet been confirmed, although similar products are already available in the United States. Industry experts believe tablet formulations could eventually reduce treatment costs compared with injectable medicines.
For now, the approval represents another major step in the rapidly expanding field of obesity treatment, with many experts predicting that weight-loss tablets could become as familiar as the injections that have transformed the market over the past few years.
