The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide tablets as the first once-daily oral GLP-1 treatment for obesity. This authorization provides adults with weight-related conditions a pill-based alternative to weekly injections, available via private prescription within weeks.
Approval relies on Phase 3 OASIS 4 trial data involving 307 adults without diabetes. Participants taking 25mg semaglutide tablets achieved 13.6% weight loss over 64 weeks regardless of adherence, compared to 2.4% for placebo. With full adherence, weight loss reached 16.6%.
This marks the third global regulatory license for the oral formulation, following approvals in the US and UAE. While broader market launches are scheduled for late 2026, immediate private access offers new flexibility for long-term weight management in the UK healthcare landscape.