Mounjaro vs Wegovy vs Nevolat: Comparing the UK's Weight-Loss Injections

You've heard both names, here's what each pen actually contains

Picture this: you've spent an evening reading about weight-loss injections and you now have two shortlisted options, plus a third name you can't quite place. Mounjaro and Wegovy are real, MHRA-licensed medicines. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly, and works on two gut-hormone receptors simultaneously, GIP and GLP-1. Wegovy contains semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, and targets the GLP-1 receptor alone. Both slow gastric emptying, reduce appetite and are taken as once-weekly subcutaneous injections via pre-filled pens.

Nevolat does not match any product on the MHRA register or any licensed weight-management medicine available in the UK. If you have seen that name on a website or social media post, treat it as a red flag: the MHRA has warned repeatedly about unregistered or counterfeit weight-loss products sold online, and no legitimate UK pharmacy stocks a weight-loss injection called Nevolat. For the nevolat vs wegovy vs mounjaro search, the useful comparison is between the two licensed medicines, and if you want a thorough side-by-side breakdown our Wegovy vs Mounjaro guide covers exactly what sets them apart. You can verify any pharmacy dispensing these medicines on the GPhC pharmacy register before handing over any personal or financial details.

How the trial results compare, and what the numbers mean in practice

Trial data is where the two medicines diverge most clearly. In SURMOUNT-1, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, adults taking tirzepatide at the highest studied dose lost around 20–21% of body weight over 72 weeks. In STEP 1, semaglutide 2.4mg produced average losses of roughly 15% over 68 weeks, a meaningful difference in absolute terms. The SURMOUNT-5 trial, also published in the NEJM in 2025, compared the two medicines directly in a head-to-head open-label study across 72 weeks in 751 adults with obesity who did not have diabetes; tirzepatide produced the greater average weight reduction.

That said, these are group averages. Some people do exceptionally well on semaglutide; others find tirzepatide's dual mechanism better tolerated from the start. Wegovy also now has an approved 7.2mg maintenance dose (the MHRA confirmed a dedicated single-dose pen on 14 April 2026) and at that higher dose the gap narrows. If you want a more detailed look at the dosing schedules behind these numbers, our Wegovy vs Mounjaro dosing comparison covers exactly that. Our comparison of the underlying trial evidence lives at Mounjaro vs Wegovy: the trial data.

Who can be prescribed which, and how the eligibility differs

Both medicines share the same private licensed eligibility floor: adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 and above alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. A prescriber reviews the full picture (medical history, current medicines, contraindications) before deciding which, if either, is appropriate. BMI alone is never the whole story.

On the NHS, the routes diverge. NICE's appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026) covers adults with a BMI of 35 or above plus at least one comorbidity, with access rolling out in phases through 2025 to 2027. Wegovy is recommended under TA875 but only via specialist weight management services and for a maximum of two years. Waiting lists for NHS routes are long in many areas. For those who do not meet the current NHS criteria or cannot wait, a private consultation with a regulated online pharmacy is the practical alternative. If cost is part of your thinking, our breakdown of which is cheaper, Mounjaro or Wegovy, puts the pricing in context.

One practical note: when your treatment is approved, the pen arrives via DPD the next working day. The box is plain, with no branding visible from the outside. Inside, the pen itself is compact and pre-filled, no drawing up of doses, no vials.

Side effects, safety and how to decide

The side-effect profiles overlap considerably. Nausea, loose stools, constipation, reflux and fatigue are the most commonly reported with both medicines, usually most noticeable after starting or after a dose increase, and typically settling within a week or two. Both carry a Black Triangle (▼) in the UK, meaning additional post-market monitoring applies.

There are some differences worth knowing. Women taking oral contraceptives alongside tirzepatide should add a non-oral method (such as condoms) for the first four weeks of treatment and for four weeks after each dose increase, because tirzepatide may reduce how well the pill is absorbed. NHS guidance does not flag the same concern for semaglutide. For anyone on HRT, NHS England advises discussing transdermal options with a prescriber while taking tirzepatide. Ozempic, which is also semaglutide, is worth distinguishing clearly: it is licensed for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss, and is a separate conversation from Wegovy. Our Mounjaro vs Ozempic page covers that distinction if you need it.

Which medicine suits you is a clinical decision our prescribers make with you, not a choice to be made from a comparison table alone. If you want to think through the broader question of which direction fits your situation, our page on whether Wegovy or Mounjaro is right for you is a good next read, and you can explore all available options on our treatment page when you are ready to start your free consultation. Our clinical team reviews every consultation personally before any prescription is issued.