Novo Nordisk's Wegovy: the semaglutide medicine licensed for weight management in the UK

What Novo Nordisk's Wegovy actually is, and how semaglutide works

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, belongs to a class of medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone the gut releases after eating; it signals to the brain that you are full, slows the rate at which the stomach empties, and plays a role in regulating blood sugar. Wegovy mimics that hormone continuously, which tends to reduce appetite and lower overall calorie intake over time. Because it targets a single receptor pathway, it is described as a selective GLP-1 agonist, which distinguishes it from tirzepatide, the dual-agonist medicine you can read about on our semaglutide overview page for a fuller comparison of the two mechanisms.

Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind Wegovy, has developed semaglutide across several licensed products in the UK, and you can read more about how Nordisk Wegovy fits within that broader product family on our dedicated page. Ozempic is also semaglutide but licensed specifically for type 2 diabetes management, and the two are not interchangeable for weight-loss purposes under UK law. A third product, the recently approved Wegovy tablet, brings oral semaglutide to weight management for the first time in the UK. Understanding which product is which matters if you are researching your options, because online searches frequently blur the lines between them.

The NHS medicines page for semaglutide sets out how the injection works, its common side effects, and the general precautions that apply, and is a reliable starting point for anyone who wants a plain-language summary from a UK clinical source.

The licence, the doses, and what changed in 2026

Wegovy's UK licence covers adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower BMI thresholds can apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. Treatment is always started at the lowest dose, 0.25mg once weekly, and the prescriber titrates upward at roughly four-weekly intervals through 0.5mg, 1.0mg and 1.7mg before reaching the 2.4mg maintenance dose.

Two significant regulatory steps happened in 2026. In January, the MHRA approved an extended 7.2mg maintenance dose, initially delivered via three standard 2.4mg pens weekly. Then, on 14 April 2026, the MHRA approved a dedicated single-dose 7.2mg pen: one pre-set weekly injection with a built-in covered needle that locks after use. That pen is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above only, and the titration still starts at 0.25mg. Trial data at 7.2mg reported average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks, narrowing the gap with the highest doses of tirzepatide. Specific dose availability is confirmed at consultation, since stock formats can change, and our guide to 20 ml semaglutide formats explains how larger-volume presentations differ from the standard pens.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive are all situations in which Wegovy is not recommended. The medicine is not licensed for anyone under 18. Anyone with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or certain gastrointestinal conditions should discuss this with a prescriber before starting.

Reading the evidence: what the STEP 1 trial found

The headline figure most people come across is the 15% average weight loss reported in the STEP 1 trial. That study ran for 68 weeks, used the 2.4mg maintenance dose, and enrolled adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one related health condition, none of whom had type 2 diabetes. Participants combined the injection with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, which is the licensed context for Wegovy: it is not a standalone treatment but works alongside lifestyle changes. The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, remains the primary evidence base for regulators and NICE.

NICE recommends semaglutide (Wegovy) for NHS use under technology appraisal TA875, though with specific conditions: it is recommended for a maximum of two years, within a specialist weight management service providing multidisciplinary support, and for adults with a BMI of 35 or above and at least one weight-related comorbidity. NHS waiting lists for specialist services can be long, which is why many people explore the private route, and our page on Novo Nordisk Wegovy sales covers how the commercial landscape for private supply has developed. On our guide to accessing Wegovy in the UK you can find a fuller account of the two pathways side by side.

The evidence does not suggest Wegovy is suitable or effective for everyone equally. Response varies between individuals, and NICE guidance notes that treatment should be reviewed if less than 5% weight loss is achieved after six months on the maintenance dose. That review is a clinical conversation, not a fixed rule to apply yourself.

How a private, clinician-led service like nume fits into this picture

For people who do not meet the current NHS criteria, or who would rather not wait, a regulated private pharmacy offering Wegovy by prescription is the alternative. The important word is regulated: Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, and any legitimate route to it involves a proper clinical assessment, identity verification, and a prescriber who takes responsibility for the decision. At nume, every consultation is read by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber on the day it is submitted. There is no algorithm making the call.

If treatment is prescribed and dispatched, it arrives via DPD the next working day in plain, unbranded packaging. The pen itself is the Novo Nordisk pre-filled injector, sourced through the licensed UK supply chain. That supply-chain point is worth taking seriously: counterfeit semaglutide pens have been seized in large numbers by the MHRA, and some have been found to contain insulin rather than semaglutide. Checking that any pharmacy you use is listed on the GPhC pharmacy register takes under a minute and is the single most useful verification step available to patients.

If you are at an earlier stage of working out which treatment might suit you, our weight-loss treatment overview sets out how Wegovy compares with other licensed options. When you are ready to talk to a prescriber, you can check your eligibility through a free consultation with our clinical team.