BAGSVÆRD, Denmark, June 11, 2026
Novo Nordisk announced that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Wegovy® pill (semaglutide tablets), making it the first daily GLP-1 weight-loss pill approved in the United Kingdom. The landmark approval provides adults living with obesity or overweight with weight-related conditions access to a once-daily oral treatment option as an alternative to injectable GLP-1 therapies. The regulatory decision was supported by positive data from the pivotal Phase III OASIS 4 clinical trial, which demonstrated substantial and sustained weight reduction in adults receiving oral semaglutide alongside diet and exercise interventions. The approval represents a major milestone in obesity care and further strengthens Novo Nordisk’s leadership position in the rapidly expanding global obesity treatment market.
Phase III OASIS 4 Trial Demonstrates Significant Weight Loss
The MHRA approval was based on results from the OASIS 4 Phase III study, which evaluated semaglutide 25 mg tablets in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related comorbidity, excluding patients with type 2 diabetes. The trial enrolled 307 participants who received either once-daily oral semaglutide or placebo in combination with lifestyle modifications. After 64 weeks of treatment, participants receiving semaglutide achieved approximately 13.6% average weight loss, compared with 2.4% in the placebo group under treatment-policy analysis.
Among participants who remained adherent to therapy throughout the study, weight loss reached approximately 16.6%, compared with 2.7% for placebo recipients. These results reinforce the efficacy of oral semaglutide as a clinically meaningful obesity treatment while providing patients with an alternative administration route that may improve treatment acceptance and accessibility.
First Oral GLP-1 Weight Management Option in the UK
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The approval marks a significant advancement in obesity management by introducing the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist specifically approved for chronic weight management in the UK. Until now, most highly effective GLP-1 therapies for obesity have required weekly injections. Wegovy pill offers patients the flexibility of a daily oral treatment while delivering efficacy consistent with the established benefits of semaglutide-based therapies.
Clinical data showed that the safety and tolerability profile of oral semaglutide was comparable to injectable formulations, with the most commonly reported adverse events involving gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The majority of these events were mild to moderate and diminished over time, consistent with the broader GLP-1 therapeutic class. Healthcare experts believe the availability of an oral treatment option may help expand patient access and improve long-term engagement with obesity care programs.
Expanding Access to Obesity Treatment Worldwide
The approval comes at a time when obesity continues to represent one of the most significant public health challenges globally. Approximately 15 million people in the UK are currently living with obesity, and projections suggest that nearly 71% of UK adults could be overweight or obese by 2040. Despite the growing burden of obesity-related diseases, access to effective treatment remains limited for many patients. Novo Nordisk indicated that Wegovy pill is expected to become available through private prescription channels within weeks following approval.
The MHRA becomes the third regulatory authority to approve the medicine after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United Arab Emirates Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE). As Novo Nordisk prepares for broader international launches during the second half of 2026, the approval underscores the company’s commitment to expanding treatment choices and addressing the long-term health consequences associated with obesity and related metabolic diseases worldwide.
Source: Novo Nordisk press release
