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Wegovy tablets are available to buy on private prescription from today (July 6), manufacturer Novo Nordisk has announced as pharmacy trade bodies report their members are placing “large orders” with wholesalers to cope with anticipated levels of public demand.

The move follows the MHRA’s recent approval of a weight loss indication for semaglutide tablets for overweight or obese adults with at least one related health condition.

The product is being launched via a staged roll-out “to ensure consistent supply across the market,” said Novo Nordisk, adding: “Treatment can be started at a low dose and increased gradually under clinical supervision.

“Initial doses (1.5mg, 4mg) are now in the UK, with higher doses (9mg, 25mg) becoming available in the coming weeks.”

Adam Burt, senior director with Novo Nordisk’s private obesity division, said: “The scale of the unmet need in the UK is clear. Obesity is a chronic disease currently affecting at least 16 million people across its nations. With rates continuing to rise year on year, and obesity’s significant impact on both individuals and the wider health system, the availability of Wegovy pill offers another option through regulated private providers to support eligible patients as part of long-term weight management.”

Pharmacies have reported high levels of demand from the public, with snap polling from the National Pharmacy Association suggesting that three-quarters of NPA members are expecting an influx of patient queries and 49 per cent saying they have had more patients inquiring about weight loss services since the MHRA greenlit Wegovy tablets.

The NPA urged the Government to speed up the roll-out, with chair Olivier Picard commenting: "The NHS roll out remains extremely slow and community pharmacy is ready to support a wider roll out, which will help eligible patients access treatment safely and help mitigate the impact of obesity on the NHS.”

Independent Pharmacies Association chief executive Leyla Hannbeck said:  “Ahead of the launch date, pharmacists across the country are already seeing significant interest from patients, and many pharmacies have placed large orders with the medicine wholesalers to ensure patients who need it can access it.”

Ms Hannbeck said the ease of use and convenience associated with the pill product could drive consultations and improve adherence, adding that switching over from an injectable GLP-1 “should be a smooth process”.

She added: “But it is vital that anyone wishing to switch does so under clinical review by a healthcare professional, such as your local pharmacist. The body absorbs the oral, tablet form less efficiently than the injections, so it is essential that patients are monitored to ensure correct dosing.”

Ms Hannbeck said GLP-1 medicines “should only ever be part of a weight-loss journey that includes a healthy diet and increased exercise,” emphasising that community pharmacies are “ideally placed” to support this.

Concerns were raised that criminals could exploit the latest market developments to push counterfeit Wegovy pills, with Ms Hannbeck stressing: “It is essential anyone thinking of taking Wegovy pills does so through regulated providers. Local pharmacies are ready to offer advice and reassurance.”

This was echoed by the NPA, which previously carried out research indicating that patients at two in five pharmacies had unwittingly purchased medicines from unregulated websites in 2025.

Launching the product on its Online Doctor service, Boots announced it will offer the lower 1.5mg dose for £79 to new customers and for £99 to existing customers, and higher strengths to be sold for up to £229.

The chain said that prior to today’s launch “thousands” of prospective patients completed consultations “to be one of the first to receive the new oral medication,” with two-thirds of these being patients that have not previously access GLP-1 medicines from Boots.

“The introduction of the new oral Wegovy pill is an important addition to our weight loss service,” said Jamie Kerruish, chief healthcare officer at Boots. The product will be available in Boots stores from July 12.