Semaglutide drug names: which one is which, and why it matters

You searched 'semaglutide' and got back four different names, here's why

Picture this: you've read something about a weight-loss injection, then a diabetes tablet, then a liver treatment, all apparently for the same molecule. It's not a mistake. Semaglutide (the molecule itself) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk. It slows gastric emptying, reduces appetite and influences blood-sugar regulation. But the same chemical can be packaged, dosed and licensed in quite different ways for quite different purposes, and the brand name signals which version you're looking at, something our semaglutide names guide explains in full.

Wegovy is the injection licensed in the UK for weight management. It runs from a 0.25mg starting dose up through 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg, with the MHRA having also approved a 7.2mg maintenance dose and a dedicated single-dose 7.2mg pen in April 2026 for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. The NHS medicines page for semaglutide covers the Wegovy injection's side effects and how it's used in detail. Ozempic is the same drug but at different doses (0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg) and its UK licence covers type 2 diabetes management, not weight loss. The names look different on the packaging because the products are, legally, different things.

Then there's the newer arrival. Wegovy tablets were approved by the MHRA on 11 June 2026 as the first oral GLP-1 medicine licensed in the UK for weight management, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve it. More on the oral form below, but even here, the name distinction matters, because a different oral semaglutide product already existed.

Ozempic versus Wegovy: same molecule, very different prescriptions

A question our prescribers hear most weeks runs something like: "Can I just get Ozempic for weight loss? I've seen people using it." The honest answer is that Ozempic is not licensed for weight management in the UK. The MHRA's guidance on GLP-1 medicines is clear that these medicines are not assessed or indicated for cosmetic or quick weight loss, and prescribing Ozempic off-label for that purpose in a private setting isn't something a responsible UK prescriber would do routinely when a licensed alternative exists. Wegovy is that licensed alternative, same active ingredient, different product authorisation.

This isn't pedantry. When a medicine is licensed for a specific use, the trials supporting that licence were conducted at the doses and in the populations the licence describes. The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, studied semaglutide at 2.4mg in adults with obesity and found an average weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks. That's the evidence base behind the Wegovy weight-management licence. Ozempic's trial programme focused on glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes. The doses differ; the populations differ; the intended outcomes differ. A prescriber working within the licence is working with that evidence.

If you're weighing up your options and want to understand how Wegovy compares to other treatments, the Wegovy overview covers the full picture, and the weight-loss treatments page sets it alongside the alternatives available through nume.

Rybelsus and Wegovy tablets: two oral semaglutides, two separate licences

The picture gets more layered with tablets. Rybelsus was already on the UK market as an oral semaglutide product, but licensed for type 2 diabetes in 3mg, 7mg and 14mg strengths. When Wegovy tablets launched in June 2026, they used a completely different dosing ladder: 1.5mg, then 4mg, 9mg and up to 25mg. Those strengths are specific to the weight-management licence. Rybelsus strengths are specific to the diabetes licence. They are not interchangeable, and a pharmacy dispensing for weight management would supply Wegovy tablets, not Rybelsus.

The practical detail worth knowing about Wegovy tablets: they're taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, swallowed whole with a small amount of plain water, and nothing else (no coffee, no food, no other oral medicines) for at least 30 minutes afterwards. Unlike the injection, they don't need refrigeration, which some patients find helpful. The semaglutide drug guide goes into more detail on how the oral form compares to the weekly injection.

Because these are prescription-only medicines, the prescriber choosing between the injection and the tablet takes your full health picture into account, including any conditions that might affect absorption, your preference, and your starting dose. The related page on semaglutide's other names also touches on how international brand names add to the confusion, particularly for people who've read about products not available in the UK.

What the name tells you about whether it's legal to prescribe for weight loss

The short version: if the box says Wegovy and it came from a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy on a valid prescription, you have the right product for weight management. If the name is Ozempic or Rybelsus, the licensed use is type 2 diabetes. Any seller offering semaglutide for weight loss without a prescription is operating outside UK law, regardless of what name appears on the packaging. Counterfeit and unverified products have been seized in large numbers by the MHRA, fake pens have in some cases contained entirely different substances.

Checking that a pharmacy is legitimate takes about 30 seconds on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org/registers. It's worth doing before any purchase. The breakdown of Wegovy's drug name and licensing covers that verification process in more detail.

Understanding the cost of treatment is a reasonable next step once the names make sense, the Wegovy cost guide explains what a private prescription typically includes, and what the price difference between providers often reflects.

If you'd like a prescriber to assess whether Wegovy is right for your situation, check your eligibility with a free consultation. Every application is read by a GPhC-registered prescriber, not processed by software.