UK approves first oral GLP‑1 weight‑loss pill

The United Kingdom has approved its first daily pill for weight loss, offering a new option for millions of adults living with obesity. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorized the Wegovy semaglutide tablet on Thursday, June 11, 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve the oral form of the widely used GLP-1 medication.

The prescription-only tablet is intended for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or for those who are overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30 and have at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure. It is to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

The approval provides a non-injectable alternative to existing GLP-1 therapies, which mimic a hormone that regulates appetite. Julian Beach, executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, stated that the tablet had met the regulator's rigorous standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness.

Patients will begin on a 1.5mg daily dose, which increases over several months to 4mg, 9mg, and finally a 25mg maintenance dose, spending at least one month at each level. Those already...