Wegovy pill may not be a weight off everyone’s mind

With massive demand for the GLP-1 tablets now approved for use in the UK, Helen Coffey asks experts how they differ from the jab and where they fit in the weight-loss revolution

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Wegovy has just had its first weight-loss pill licensed for use in the UK to much fanfare. The GLP-1 medication was previously only available as an injection; the semaglutide tablets are expected to become available via private providers, including supermarkets and pharmacies, within the next few weeks. Eligible candidates will be adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or adults with a BMI of 27 or more and at least one comorbidity, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Patients who meet the criteria will still have to pay - the medication won’t be available through the NHS, at least not initially. “We won’t expect that until there’s been a deal reached between [manufacturer] Novo Nordisk and the government, and I expect that to take some time,” says Dr Earim Chaudry, chief medical officer at digital healthcare provider Voy.

There already seems to be a great deal of interest in the Wegovy pill. Voy, the only UK provider currently open for pre-orders, has experienced “massive demand”. “We’ve seen, on our waiting list, tens of thousands of patients who are currently waiting for the treatment,” says Dr Chaudry.

The pill works in much the same way as the jab, providing the same type of hormone - a peptide called semaglutide that mimics GLP-1 to suppress appetite - in oral form. It’s coupled with a molecule called SNAC (salcaprozate sodium), which enables the body to absorb the peptide in an adequate volume.

Unlike the injections, which are administered weekly, the pills are for daily use, taken every morning on an empty stomach. The patient must wait half an hour before they can eat afterwards. There are four dose strengths available - 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg - with new users expected to start on the lowest dose before incrementally increasing over the course of several months.