What is the Wegovy pill?
The Wegovy pill is a once-daily tablet containing semaglutide, the same active ingredient found in injectable Wegovy.
It works in the same way as the injection: mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite and slow digestion.1
Instead of a weekly injection, you swallow a tablet once a day on an empty stomach with a small amount of water.
Each tablet contains an absorption enhancer called SNAC (salcaprozate sodium). This protects the semaglutide from stomach acid and helps it pass through the stomach lining into your bloodstream.3
The pill is available in four doses: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg. You start on the lowest dose and increase every 30 days over a 12-week escalation period, reaching the maintenance dose of 25 mg.
How effective is the Wegovy pill?
The main evidence comes from the OASIS 4 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September 2025.1
The trial enrolled 307 adults with obesity or overweight (with at least one weight-related condition) who didn’t have type 2 diabetes.
Participants took either oral semaglutide 25 mg or a placebo daily for 64 weeks, alongside lifestyle changes.
Key results:
- 13.6% average body weight loss with oral semaglutide, compared to 2.2% with placebo
- 76.3% of people on the pill achieved at least 5% weight loss
- Around 30% achieved 20% or more weight loss
- Among those who fully adhered to treatment, average weight loss reached 16.6%
These results are similar to injectable Wegovy 2.4 mg. The STEP 1 trial found that injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg produced an average weight loss of 14.9% over 68 weeks.4
A separate trial (OASIS 1) tested a higher 50 mg oral dose and found even greater weight loss of around 15.1%, though this dose isn’t approved.5
How the Wegovy pill compares to injectable Wegovy
|
Wegovy pill |
Injectable Wegovy (2.4 mg) |
Injectable Wegovy (7.2 mg) |
| Active ingredient |
Semaglutide |
Semaglutide |
Semaglutide |
| How you take it |
Daily tablet on an empty stomach |
Weekly injection |
Weekly injection |
| Maintenance dose |
25 mg once daily |
2.4 mg once weekly |
7.2 mg once weekly |
| Average weight loss |
13.6% (OASIS 4)1 |
14.9% (STEP 1)4 |
20.7% (STEP UP) |
| Time to maintenance dose |
~12 weeks |
~16 weeks |
~28 weeks |
| UK availability |
Not yet approved |
Available now |
Available now (MHRA approved January 2026) |
| Common side effects |
Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting |
Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation |
Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation |
The weight loss results across formulations are broadly comparable, though the newer 7.2 mg injectable dose produces greater weight loss than either the pill or the standard 2.4 mg injection.
Side effects of the Wegovy pill
Side effects are similar to injectable Wegovy and mostly affect the digestive system.
In the OASIS 4 trial, the most common side effects were nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting. These were mostly mild to moderate and tended to occur during the dose escalation phase.1
One notable finding from the trial: serious adverse events were actually less common with oral semaglutide (3.9%) than with placebo (8.8%).1
The pill carries the same boxed warning as injectable Wegovy regarding thyroid C-cell tumours, based on animal studies.
This risk has not been confirmed in humans, but the medication isn’t recommended for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
If you experience gastrointestinal side effects, they typically improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
Taking the tablet correctly, on an empty stomach with only a small amount of water, can help with absorption and may reduce stomach discomfort.
When will the Wegovy pill be available in the UK?
The Wegovy pill is currently only available in the US, where it launched in January 2026.
Novo Nordisk submitted the oral formulation to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities, including the MHRA, during the second half of 2025.2
Based on typical regulatory timelines, UK approval could come in late 2026.
After regulatory approval, NICE would need to conduct a health technology assessment before the NHS could offer it. This process typically takes a further 6 to 9 months.
Private providers are likely to offer the Wegovy pill before it becomes available through the NHS, similar to the path injectable Wegovy and Mounjaro followed when they reached the UK.
In the meantime, injectable Wegovy (2.4 mg and 7.2 mg) and injectable Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are both available in the UK through private providers and, in some cases, through the NHS.
How to take the Wegovy pill
The Wegovy pill requires a specific daily routine to work properly.
Semaglutide is a peptide, meaning it would normally be broken down by stomach acid before it could be absorbed. The SNAC absorption enhancer in each tablet helps prevent this, but only if it’s taken correctly.3
The daily routine:
- Take one tablet first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach
- Swallow the tablet whole with no more than half a glass of plain water (up to 120 ml)
- Don’t use any other liquid besides water
- Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other oral medications
- Don’t crush, split, or chew the tablet
If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose the following day as normal. Don’t take two tablets in one day.
Daily tablets are more involved than a weekly injection, which is worth considering when deciding between the pill and the injection.
Some people may find a once-weekly injection simpler to fit into their routine than remember to take a pill every day on an empty stomach.
Who might benefit from the Wegovy pill?
The Wegovy pill could be particularly useful for people who have avoided GLP-1 treatment because they are uncomfortable with injections.
Research suggests that needle aversion is a meaningful barrier to starting injectable medications, and an oral alternative could bring more people into treatment.
It may also suit people who travel frequently and find daily tablets easier to manage than carrying injection pens that need refrigeration.
On the other hand, if you’re already managing well on injectable Wegovy or Mounjaro, there may be no strong reason to switch.
The daily fasting requirement and the need to wait 30 minutes before eating could be less convenient for some people than a weekly injection.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wegovy pill as effective as the injection?
Clinical trial results suggest the weight loss is comparable. The pill achieved an average weight loss of 13.6% over 64 weeks (OASIS 4),1 while injectable Wegovy 2.4 mg achieved 14.9% over 68 weeks (STEP 1).4 With full treatment adherence, the pill reached 16.6% weight loss.1
Can you get the Wegovy pill in the UK?
Not yet. As of early 2026, the Wegovy pill is only available in the US. Novo Nordisk has submitted it for regulatory review with the EMA and MHRA, and UK approval is expected in late 2026.2
How do you take the Wegovy pill?
One tablet daily on an empty stomach with no more than half a glass of plain water. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications. Swallow the tablet whole.
What doses does the Wegovy pill come in?
The pill is available in 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg strengths. Treatment starts at 1.5 mg with a gradual increase every 30 days to the maintenance dose of 25 mg.
Is the Wegovy pill the same as Rybelsus?
Both contain oral semaglutide, but they’re different products approved for different purposes.
Rybelsus (up to 14 mg) is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The Wegovy pill (25 mg) is specifically approved for weight management at a higher dose.
Will the Wegovy pill be available on the NHS?
This will depend on MHRA approval followed by a NICE health technology assessment. If it follows a similar path to injectable Wegovy, NHS access could come in 2027. Private providers are likely to offer it sooner.
Is there a Mounjaro pill?
No. Tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) isn’t available as a tablet. Its molecular structure makes it difficult to formulate as an oral medication.
Eli Lilly is instead developing orforglipron, a separate oral GLP-1 medication currently in late-stage clinical trials.
Can you switch from injectable Wegovy to the pill?
This would need to be discussed with your prescriber. The two formulations use different dosing schedules (daily vs weekly) and different doses, so switching would require clinical guidance on timing and dose adjustment.
What are the side effects of the Wegovy pill?
The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
These are similar to injectable Wegovy and tend to be mild to moderate, improving as your body adjusts during the dose escalation period.1
How much will the Wegovy pill cost in the UK?
UK pricing hasn’t been confirmed. In the US, the starting dose is approximately $149 per month. UK pricing will depend on regulatory decisions and whether NICE recommends it for NHS coverage.
Take home message
The Wegovy pill is the first oral GLP-1 medication approved specifically for weight loss.
Clinical trials show weight-loss results comparable to those of injectable Wegovy, making it a potential alternative for people who prefer tablets over injections.
The pill isn’t available in the UK yet, but regulatory submissions are underway, and approval could come in late 2026.
If you’re interested in trying oral semaglutide when it becomes available, joining our waiting list ensures you’re notified as soon as it’s accessible.
In the meantime, injectable Wegovy and Mounjaro are both available in the UK and are supported by strong evidence for weight loss.
Second Nature’s published research shows that members taking semaglutide alongside dietitian-led behaviour change support achieved an average of 19.1% weight loss at 12 months.6
Second Nature's Mounjaro and Wegovy programmes
Second Nature provides Mounjaro or Wegovy as part of our Mounjaro and Wegovy weight-loss programmes.
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you're eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We've had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro and Wegovy) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We're here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK's most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
References
- Wharton, S., et al. (2025). Oral semaglutide at a dose of 25 mg in adults with overweight or obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 393(11).
- Novo Nordisk. (2025). Wegovy pill approved in the US as first oral GLP-1 for weight management. Press release, 22 December 2025.
- Buckley, S.T., et al. (2018). Transcellular stomach absorption of a derivatized glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Science Translational Medicine, 10(467).
- Wilding, J.P., et al. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989-1002.
- Knop, F.K., et al. (2023). Oral semaglutide 50 mg taken once per day in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 1). The Lancet, 402(10403), 705-719.
- Richards, R., et al. (2025). A remotely delivered, semaglutide-supported specialist weight management program: 12-month outcomes. JMIR Formative Research, 9(1), e72577.
