Home > Wegovy > Wegovy Tablets UK: Dose, OASIS 4 Results and 2026 Availability

Wegovy Tablets UK: Dose, OASIS 4 Results and 2026 Availability

Key takeaways

Wegovy tablets are a once-daily oral form of semaglutide developed for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.
The UK maintenance dose is 25mg once daily, reached gradually through dose escalation under clinical supervision.
The Wegovy tablet was approved in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 11 June 2026 for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.
Wegovy tablets are now licensed in the UK, the tablets are now available to order.
In the OASIS 4 trial, adults taking Wegovy 25mg tablets lost 13.6% of their starting body weight on average after 64 weeks, compared with 2.2% in the placebo group.
In OASIS 4, 76.3% of people taking Wegovy tablets lost at least 5% of their body weight, 59.8% lost at least 10%, 47.0% lost at least 15%, and 27.5% lost at least 20%.
The tablet must be taken after an overnight fast, swallowed whole with up to 120ml of plain water, and taken at least 30 minutes before any food, drink or other oral medication.
NHS access is not currently confirmed. Any future NHS availability will depend on NICE review, commissioning decisions and eligibility criteria.

Medically reviewed by

Moazma Ahmed, MPharm

Pharmacist Independent Prescriber · GPhC No. 2069977
Lead Prescriber, Live Well Weight Loss

Last medically reviewed

19 June 2026

Last updated

19 June 2026

Next review due

June 2027

Quick answer

The Wegovy tablet is a once-daily oral version of semaglutide for weight loss and weight management. Unlike the weekly Wegovy injection, it is taken as a tablet by mouth on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours. It should be swallowed whole with up to 120ml of plain water, and patients should wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking any other oral medicine.

The Wegovy tablet has now been approved in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Approval was granted on 11 June 2026, making it the first oral GLP-1 tablet licensed in the UK for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.

In the OASIS 4 clinical trial, adults taking semaglutide 25mg tablets lost an average of 13.6% of their starting body weight after 64 weeks, compared with 2.2% in the placebo group. When estimated as if all patients had stayed on treatment and had not used additional weight loss therapies, average weight loss was 16.6% with semaglutide tablets, compared with 2.8% with placebo.

The Wegovy tablet launched in the United States in January 2026 after FDA approval in December 2025. In the UK, the tablet has now been approved by the MHRA, and now are available to order on private prescription from some pharmacies. NHS access is not currently available and would depend on NICE assessment and commissioning decisions.

Date	Milestone
December 2025	FDA approved once-daily Wegovy tablets in the United States for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.
January 2026	Wegovy tablets became broadly available in the United States following launch by Novo Nordisk.
22 May 2026	The European Medicines Agency published a positive CHMP opinion recommending oral Wegovy tablets for weight management in the EU.
11 June 2026	The MHRA approved Wegovy tablets in the UK for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.
6 July 2026	Wegovy tablets have now been confirmed to be available for priate prescriptions.
Future NHS decision	NHS access is not currently confirmed and would depend on NICE assessment, commissioning decisions and eligibility criteria.

How does the Wegovy tablet work?

Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a natural hormone involved in appetite, food intake and blood sugar regulation. Semaglutide works by activating GLP-1 receptors, including areas of the brain involved in appetite control.

For weight loss, the most important effects are reduced hunger, increased feelings of fullness and improved control over food cravings. In clinical studies, semaglutide has also been shown to reduce energy intake and influence food preference, with some people feeling less drawn to high-fat or high-calorie foods.

Delivering semaglutide as a tablet is more challenging than giving it as an injection, because peptide medicines are usually broken down in the stomach before enough of the medicine can be absorbed. Wegovy tablets are specially formulated to help semaglutide pass into the bloodstream when taken correctly.

This is why the way the tablet is taken matters. Wegovy tablets should be taken after fasting for at least 8 hours. The tablet should be swallowed whole with up to 120ml of plain water, and patients should wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking any other oral medicine. Taking it incorrectly can reduce absorption and may make the treatment less effective.

What does the OASIS 4 trial show?

OASIS 4 was the pivotal phase 3 trial of once-daily oral semaglutide 25mg for weight management. The trial included 307 adults with obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 or above, or overweight, defined as a BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related health condition. Participants received either oral semaglutide 25mg or placebo, alongside reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for 64 weeks.

Average weight loss

At week 64, adults taking Wegovy 25mg tablets lost an average of 13.6% of their starting body weight, compared with 2.2% in the placebo group. This was a difference of 11.4 percentage points in favour of oral semaglutide.

When the results were estimated as if all patients had stayed on treatment and had not used additional weight-loss therapies, average weight loss was 16.6% with oral semaglutide 25mg, compared with 2.8% with placebo.

Proportion reaching weight-loss targets

In OASIS 4, 76.3% of people taking Wegovy tablets lost at least 5% of their starting body weight, compared with 30.5% in the placebo group.

Higher weight-loss targets were also more common with Wegovy tablets. In the oral semaglutide group, 59.8% lost at least 10% of their body weight, 47.0% lost at least 15%, and 27.5% lost at least 20%. In the placebo group, the equivalent figures were 14.1%, 5.4% and 3.0%.

Individual results vary. Weight loss depends on clinical suitability, dose escalation, adherence to the dosing instructions, diet, physical activity, side effects, starting weight and whether treatment is continued long enough to reach the maintenance dose.

What is the Wegovy tablet?

The Wegovy tablet is an oral, once-daily formulation of semaglutide developed by Novo Nordisk for the treatment of obesity and weight management. It contains the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection, but is delivered as a tablet rather than a weekly subcutaneous injection. The licensed dose for weight management is 25mg.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by mimicking the action of glucagon-like peptide-1, a natural hormone released by the gut after meals. GLP-1 reduces appetite, slows the rate at which the stomach empties, and improves the feeling of fullness after eating. These combined effects help people eat less and lose weight.

It is important not to confuse the Wegovy tablet with Rybelsus. Both contain oral semaglutide, but Rybelsus is licensed in the UK only for type 2 diabetes at doses up to 14mg. The Wegovy tablet is a higher-dose product (25mg) developed specifically for weight management, and is being assessed for that licensed use.

When will Wegovy tablets be available in the UK?

As of May 2026, the Wegovy tablet has not yet been approved for use in the United Kingdom. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently reviewing the application from Novo Nordisk. Following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, the MHRA conducts an independent assessment rather than relying on the European Medicines Agency timeline.

Industry forecasts and Novo Nordisk’s public communications point to a regulatory decision in the second half of 2026. If the MHRA grants a marketing authorisation, the tablet would first become available through private prescription, in the same way the Wegovy injection became available privately before NHS access.

NHS availability would require a separate health technology appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Based on the timelines for previous obesity medications, NHS access is unlikely before 2027.

Complete a quick online consultation to check your eligibility and explore safe, regulated weight-loss treatment options from UK-registered providers.

Outcome at week 64	Wegovy 25mg tablets	Placebo
Mean change in body weight	−13.6%	−2.2%
Lost at least 5% of starting body weight	76.3%	30.5%
Lost at least 10% of starting body weight	59.8%	14.1%
Lost at least 15% of starting body weight	47.0%	5.4%
Lost at least 20% of starting body weight	27.5%	3.0%

Figures are from the OASIS 4 trial of once-daily oral semaglutide 25mg for weight management. Individual results vary and treatment should be used alongside reduced-calorie diet, increased physical activity and clinical monitoring.

Outcome at week 64	Wegovy 25mg tablets	Placebo
Mean change in body weight	−13.6%	−2.2%
Lost at least 5% of starting body weight	76.3%	30.5%
Lost at least 10% of starting body weight	59.8%	14.1%
Lost at least 15% of starting body weight	47.0%	5.4%
Lost at least 20% of starting body weight	27.5%	3.0%

Have a question first?

Our UK-registered clinical team can help you understand eligibility, treatment options, pricing, and what to expect before starting Wegovy or other weight-loss medication.

Outcome at week 64	Wegovy 25mg tablets	Placebo
Mean change in body weight	−13.6%	−2.2%
Lost at least 5% of starting body weight	76.3%	30.5%
Lost at least 10% of starting body weight	59.8%	14.1%
Lost at least 15% of starting body weight	47.0%	5.4%
Lost at least 20% of starting body weight	27.5%	3.0%

Other clinical benefits

Beyond weight loss, OASIS 4 reported improvements in several cardiometabolic markers. Mean waist circumference reduced by 12.2cm with Wegovy 25mg tablets, compared with 2.8cm in the placebo group, giving a treatment difference of 9.5cm.

Among participants with prediabetes at baseline, 71.1% of those taking Wegovy tablets returned to normal glycaemic status by the end of treatment, compared with 33.3% in the placebo group. Other markers, including blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides and inflammatory markers, also moved in a favourable direction in the clinical trial data.

Wegovy tablet vs Wegovy injection: what is the difference?

The active ingredient is the same: semaglutide. The main differences are how the medicine is taken, how often it is used, how the body absorbs it and how strict the dosing routine needs to be.

The injection is taken once weekly and has the longer real-world track record in UK weight management. The tablet is taken once daily by mouth and offers a needle-free option, but it must be taken correctly on an empty stomach for reliable absorption.

Feature	Wegovy injection	Wegovy tablet
Active ingredient	Semaglutide	Semaglutide
Licensed use	Weight loss and weight management in eligible patients	Weight loss and weight management in eligible adults
Typical dose escalation	Usually increased gradually from 0.25mg once weekly to a maintenance dose, commonly 2.4mg once weekly where appropriate	1.5mg once daily, then 4mg, 9mg and 25mg, with at least 1 month at each dose level
Maximum dose	Up to 7.2mg once weekly in adults with obesity where clinically appropriate	25mg once daily
Administration	Subcutaneous injection using a pen	Oral tablet swallowed whole
Frequency	Once weekly	Once daily
Key dosing requirement	Injected on the same day each week	Taken after at least 8 hours fasting, with up to 120ml plain water, at least 30 minutes before food, drink or other oral medicines
Average weight loss in pivotal trial	14.9% in STEP 1 at 68 weeks with semaglutide 2.4mg injection	13.6% in OASIS 4 at 64 weeks with semaglutide 25mg tablets
UK status	Approved and prescribed privately in the UK	Approved by the MHRA on 11 June 2026

How to take the Wegovy tablet correctly

Because of how oral semaglutide is absorbed, the dosing instructions are stricter than many other tablets. Taking the medicine incorrectly can reduce absorption and may make treatment less effective.

Take the tablet on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours.
Swallow the tablet whole with a small amount of plain water, up to 120ml.
Do not split, crush or chew the tablet.
Do not take it with coffee, tea, juice, milk, fizzy drinks or food.
Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking any other oral medicine.
Take only one tablet per day. Do not take extra tablets to try to reach a higher dose.
If a dose is missed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose the following day.

Wegovy tablets are increased gradually to help reduce side effects. The starting dose is 1.5mg once daily. After one month, the dose is usually increased stepwise to 4mg, then 9mg and then 25mg once daily. Each dose level should usually be taken for at least one month before increasing. The 25mg dose is the maintenance dose.

Side effects of the Wegovy tablet

The side effect profile of Wegovy tablets is broadly similar to Wegovy injections because both contain semaglutide. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, particularly during dose escalation.

In OASIS 4, the UK Summary of Product Characteristics reports the following gastrointestinal side effects in patients taking semaglutide tablets:

Nausea: 46.6%
Vomiting: 30.9%
Constipation: 20.1%
Diarrhoea: 17.6%

Most gastrointestinal side effects were mild to moderate. However, vomiting and diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, which may be more important in patients with kidney problems or those taking medicines affected by fluid loss.

Patients should seek urgent medical advice if they develop persistent severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, symptoms of dehydration, signs of gallbladder problems, or sudden changes in vision. Semaglutide should also be used cautiously in patients with a history of pancreatitis, gastroparesis, diabetic retinopathy or significant renal or hepatic impairment.

Wegovy tablets should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Women who could become pregnant should use effective contraception while taking semaglutide and should stop treatment at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

Who would the Wegovy tablet be suitable for?

Wegovy tablets are licensed in the UK as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.

The licensed criteria are adults with an initial BMI of 30kg/m² or above, or adults with a BMI of 27kg/m² to below 30kg/m² who also have at least one weight-related comorbidity.

Patients who may prefer the tablet form include:

Patients who have needle anxiety or do not want to self-inject.
Patients who prefer a daily tablet routine instead of a weekly injection.
Patients who travel frequently and find injection storage inconvenient.
Patients who are clinically suitable for semaglutide but would prefer a non-injectable option.

The tablet may be less suitable for patients who cannot manage the strict morning dosing routine, regularly need food or drink immediately after waking, or take several important morning medicines that cannot easily be rescheduled. Suitability should always be assessed by a qualified prescriber.

Switching from Wegovy injection to Wegovy tablets

Some patients using Wegovy injections may ask whether they can switch to the tablet. The UK Summary of Product Characteristics states that patients treated with semaglutide injection 2.4mg once weekly can be transitioned to semaglutide 25mg tablets once daily. The tablet can be started one week after the last injection dose.

Switching should only be done after clinical assessment. The effect of switching between injection and tablet cannot be predicted perfectly because oral semaglutide has more variable absorption than injected semaglutide. Patients should not combine Wegovy injections and Wegovy tablets unless this has been specifically advised by their prescriber.

Wegovy tablet versus Rybelsus and orforglipron

Several oral GLP-1 or GLP-1-related medicines are relevant to UK patients, but they are not interchangeable.

Medicine	Active ingredient	Main licensed use	UK status
Wegovy tablet	Semaglutide	Weight loss and weight management in eligible adults	Approved by the MHRA
Rybelsus	Semaglutide	Type 2 diabetes	Approved in the UK
Orforglipron	Orforglipron	Investigational oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity and type 2 diabetes	Not currently licensed in the UK for weight management
Ozempic	Semaglutide injection	Type 2 diabetes	Approved in the UK for diabetes, not licensed for private weight loss treatment

Rybelsus and Wegovy tablets both contain oral semaglutide, but they are different licensed medicines used for different clinical purposes. Rybelsus is licensed for type 2 diabetes and should not be used as a substitute for Wegovy for weight loss unless specifically assessed and prescribed by an appropriate clinician.

Orforglipron is a different oral GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed by Eli Lilly. Unlike oral semaglutide, it is a small-molecule medicine and is not expected to require the same strict fasting and water-only dosing routine. However, it is not currently licensed in the UK for weight management, and direct head-to-head trial data against Wegovy tablets is not yet available.

How much will the Wegovy tablet cost in the UK?

The UK private price for Wegovy tablets now been confirmed to sart from £102.99. Private prescription pricing for Wegovy injections varies between providers and doses. Patients should compare the full service, including clinical assessment, prescribing checks, ongoing monitoring, delivery and aftercare, rather than looking at medicine price alone.

Live Well Pharmacy has published Wegovy tablet pricing on the product page.

Getting the Wegovy tablet through Live Well Pharmacy

Live Well Pharmacy is a GPhC-registered online pharmacy, registration number 9012386, based in Huddersfield. We provide clinician-led weight management treatment for eligible patients across the UK.

We already support patients using licensed weight loss treatments such as Wegovy injections and Mounjaro, and we have added Wegovy tablets to our service.

Patients can order the tablets available through our service, with the option to complete a clinical consultation. Treatment will only be supplied where it is clinically appropriate and after assessment by a UK-registered prescriber or pharmacist.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wegovy in tablet form available in the UK now?

Yes. The Wegovy tablet has now been approved in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The authorisation was granted on 11 June 2026 for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults.

The tablet contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in the Wegovy injection. The key difference is how it is taken: the tablet is taken once daily by mouth, while the Wegovy injection is taken once weekly using a pre-filled injection pen.

Approval does not always mean the tablet will be available immediately from every pharmacy or weight loss provider. Availability, pricing and prescribing pathways may depend on UK launch arrangements, wholesaler supply and individual clinical assessment. The Wegovy injection remains an established private prescription option in the UK while the tablet becomes part of the future treatment landscape.

How much weight will I lose on the Wegovy tablet?

In the OASIS 4 trial, adults taking Wegovy 25mg tablets lost an average of 13.6% of their starting body weight after 64 weeks, compared with 2.2% in the placebo group.

In the same trial, 76.3% of participants taking Wegovy tablets lost at least 5% of their starting body weight, 59.8% lost at least 10%, 47.0% lost at least 15%, and 27.5% lost at least 20%.

Individual results can vary. Weight loss depends on factors such as taking the tablet correctly, diet, physical activity, starting weight, tolerability, other health conditions and whether treatment is continued long enough to reach the maintenance dose.

Is the Wegovy tablet the same as Rybelsus?

Both Rybelsus and Wegovy tablets contain oral semaglutide, but they are different licensed medicines used for different clinical purposes.

Rybelsus is licensed in the UK for adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise. It is not licensed as a weight loss medicine. Some patients may lose weight while taking Rybelsus, but weight loss is not its licensed UK indication.

Wegovy tablets are licensed specifically for weight loss and weight management in eligible adults. The Wegovy tablet uses a higher semaglutide maintenance dose of 25mg once daily, whereas Rybelsus uses lower oral semaglutide strengths for diabetes treatment.

Patients should not use Rybelsus as a substitute for Wegovy for weight loss unless this has been specifically assessed and prescribed by an appropriate clinician.

Can I switch from the Wegovy injection to the tablet?

Switching from the injection to the tablet, or from the tablet to the injection, will be possible. The transition will need to be supervised by your prescriber to ensure dosing is appropriate.

Will the Wegovy tablet be available on the NHS?

The Wegovy tablet is not currently available through the NHS. Although it has been approved in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NHS access requires separate assessment and commissioning decisions.

For a new medicine or new formulation to be routinely available on the NHS, it usually needs to be reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE considers clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and how the treatment would fit into existing NHS weight management services.

This means Wegovy tablets may become available on the NHS in the future, but access is unlikely to be immediate. If approved for NHS use, it may be subject to specific eligibility criteria, such as BMI, weight-related health conditions and referral through specialist weight management services.

Until NHS guidance is confirmed, patients interested in semaglutide treatment may still be assessed for existing licensed private weight loss options, including Wegovy injections, where clinically appropriate.

Why does the Wegovy tablet need to be taken on an empty stomach?

Semaglutide is a peptide medicine, which means it would usually be broken down in the stomach before enough of it could be absorbed. Wegovy tablets are specially formulated to help semaglutide pass into the bloodstream when taken correctly.

For the tablet to work properly, it must be taken on an empty stomach after a recommended fasting period of at least 8 hours. It should be swallowed whole with a small amount of plain water, up to 120ml. The tablet should not be split, crushed or chewed.

After taking Wegovy tablets, patients should wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking any other oral medicines. Taking the tablet with food, other drinks or other medicines too soon can reduce absorption and may make the treatment less effective.

Are the side effects worse with the tablet than the injection?

The side effect profile of Wegovy tablets is broadly similar to Wegovy injections because both contain semaglutide. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, especially during dose escalation.

In the OASIS 4 trial, gastrointestinal symptoms were common in people taking the tablet. The UK Summary of Product Characteristics reports nausea in 46.6% of patients, vomiting in 30.9%, diarrhoea in 17.6% and constipation in 20.1%. Most gastrointestinal side effects were mild to moderate.

Patients should be aware of symptoms such as persistent severe abdominal pain, ongoing vomiting, dehydration, gallbladder symptoms or sudden changes in vision, and should seek medical advice urgently if these occur. A prescriber should assess suitability before treatment and monitor tolerability during dose escalation.

Is the Wegovy tablet safe in pregnancy?

No. Wegovy tablets should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Women who could become pregnant are advised to use effective contraception while taking semaglutide. If pregnancy is planned, semaglutide should be stopped at least 2 months before trying to conceive, because the medicine stays in the body for a period after treatment is stopped.

If a patient becomes pregnant while taking Wegovy tablets, treatment should be stopped and they should contact their prescriber or GP for further advice.

Sources & references

References

Wharton S, Lingvay I, Bogdanski P, et al. Oral semaglutide at a dose of 25 mg in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 4). New England Journal of Medicine. 2025;393:1077-1087. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2500969.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). First GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UK. Published June 2026.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Wegovy 25 mg tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics.
Novo Nordisk. Wegovy pill approved in the US as first oral GLP-1 for weight management. Press release, December 2025.
European Medicines Agency. Semaglutide public assessment and regulatory information.

About this article: This content is provided for factual information only. Eligibility for Mounjaro, Wegovy and other weight loss injections is determined by a qualified prescriber following individual clinical assessment. This article does not constitute medical advice. Live Well Weight Loss is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (registration number 9012516). Registered address: Unit T3, Enterprise Centre, Ray Street, Huddersfield, HD1 6BL.