All the names for Wegovy — and why the differences matter

So what is the generic name behind Wegovy?

The medical name for Wegovy is semaglutide. That is the international nonproprietary name, the molecule's official scientific identity, independent of any manufacturer or brand. Novo Nordisk developed semaglutide as a GLP-1 receptor agonist: it mimics a gut hormone that signals fullness to the brain and slows how quickly the stomach empties. Brand names like Wegovy are commercial labels applied by the manufacturer; the chemistry underneath is the same.

When you see the word semaglutide on packaging, a prescription or a clinical summary, it is telling you the active ingredient. The brand name tells you the licensed indication and the dose format. That distinction matters a great deal when you are trying to work out which product does what. The brand name for Wegovy in every market where Novo Nordisk holds a weight-management licence is, simply, Wegovy, there is no separate weight-loss brand name used in the UK.

Semaglutide belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, the same broad family as tirzepatide (Mounjaro), though tirzepatide also targets a second receptor and is a distinct molecule. If you have seen the names compared side by side, our Wegovy vs Ozempic page unpicks what is actually being compared.

Why does semaglutide have so many different brand names?

Three brand names are in active UK use for semaglutide, and each exists because the medicine was developed for a specific clinical purpose at a specific dose.

Wegovy (injection) is licensed in the UK for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition. The standard injection pathway runs from 0.25 mg up to a 2.4 mg weekly maintenance dose, or up to 7.2 mg with the newer high-dose pen approved by the MHRA in April 2026. The other names for Wegovy that appear in search results almost always refer to this injection product.

Wegovy tablets received MHRA approval on 11 June 2026 as the first oral GLP-1 medicine licensed in the UK for weight management. The tablet schedule runs from 1.5 mg daily to a 25 mg maintenance dose, entirely different strengths from the injection. NHS guidance on semaglutide covers both routes.

Ozempic is semaglutide in a dose range (0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg) licensed specifically for type 2 diabetes. Using Ozempic for weight management is off-label use; it is not a weight-loss medicine under UK licensing. The comparison between Wegovy and Ozempic goes into this in more detail.

Rybelsus is oral semaglutide, but in the 3 mg, 7 mg and 14 mg strengths licensed for type 2 diabetes, not the Wegovy tablet schedule and not for weight loss. The two oral products should not be confused: same molecule, entirely different licensed purpose and dose.

What about names like Zepbound, is that another name for Wegovy?

No. This is one of the most common mix-ups in online searches. Zepbound is the US brand name for tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Eli Lilly. It contains a completely different molecule from semaglutide and has no connection to Wegovy beyond both being injectable weight-management medicines. In the UK, tirzepatide is sold as Mounjaro, not Zepbound, Zepbound does not exist as a UK product. If you have seen the two names used interchangeably, the source is not reliable.

A useful way to keep the landscape straight: semaglutide is the molecule, Wegovy is the weight-management brand, Ozempic and Rybelsus are the diabetes brands. Tirzepatide is a separate molecule sold as Mounjaro in the UK. The question of whether Wegovy has another name really bottoms out at semaglutide, that is the only other name that is scientifically accurate.

For context on what each treatment costs privately in the UK, the Wegovy cost page sets out what private pricing typically covers and what to look for when comparing providers. Pricing for prescription medicines should always be read alongside what clinical oversight is included.

Does the name on your prescription or pen change anything practical?

Clinically, yes. A prescription written for Wegovy is specifically for the weight-management indication and the doses licensed under that name. A pharmacist dispensing it is working within that licence. If you were previously on Ozempic for diabetes and then move to Wegovy for weight management, that is a clinical change, not just a label swap, your prescriber needs to know your full history.

Practically, what arrives through the post is the Wegovy pen, tracked via DPD and delivered in plain, unbranded packaging. The pen itself is labelled with the Wegovy brand and the strength. Checking that label against your prescription is a straightforward safety step; the MHRA has flagged counterfeit weight-loss pens as a growing problem, and a legitimate pen from a GPhC-registered pharmacy will always arrive with the correct branded packaging and batch details. If anything looks off, report it via Yellow Card before using it.

If you want to explore whether semaglutide is clinically suitable for you, the Wegovy application process at nume starts with a free consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber, with no referral required.