Wegovy becomes first daily weight loss pill to be approved in UK

Health & Fitness
12 Jun 2026 • 3:51 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Wegovy becomes first daily weight loss pill to be approved in UK

  • The medicines regulator has approved Wegovy, the UK’s first GLP-1 pill for weight loss, a daily semaglutide tablet.
  • It is prescribed for obese adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or those who are overweight with a related condition such as high blood pressure.
  • The dosage starts at 1.5mg and gradually increases to 25mg, with patients needing to be on each dose level for at least a month before moving up to the next.
  • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the drug based on data from a trial that demonstrated an average body weight loss of 17 per cent after 64 weeks for adults taking the 25mg daily pill alongside diet and exercise.
  • The drug will be available privately within weeks, though it has not yet been assessed for use on the NHS.

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