Semaglutide injection — generic versions, brand names and what's actually available in the UK

Step 1, understand why there is no generic version yet

Generic medicines become available once a medicine's patent expires and regulators approve equivalent formulations from other manufacturers. Semaglutide's patent is still in force, which means only Novo Nordisk can legally produce and sell it in the UK. The MHRA licences medicines product by product; a factory producing the same molecule without that authorisation is operating outside the law, regardless of how the product is labelled.

This matters practically because "generic semaglutide" appearing on social media or grey-market websites is not an approved copy of Wegovy. It is either a counterfeit, an unlicensed compound, or a product authorised in a different country under a different regulatory framework, none of which carries the safety verification that UK patients are entitled to expect. The MHRA has seized large volumes of fake weight-loss pens in recent years, some containing entirely different active substances. You can read the regulator's own guidance on reporting suspect medicines via the Yellow Card scheme if you come across anything that does not look right.

It is also worth separating the injection from newer oral options. If you prefer to avoid injections altogether, the non-injection semaglutide route is now a reality with the licensed Wegovy tablet, though that too requires a prescription.

Step 2, know what the licensed injection actually is

Wegovy is the branded semaglutide injection licensed in the UK for weight management. It works by activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain and gut, slowing gastric emptying and reducing appetite over time. It is given once weekly as a subcutaneous injection, starting at 0.25 mg and titrated upward roughly every four weeks, with 2.4 mg as the standard maintenance dose. In January 2026 the MHRA also approved a 7.2 mg maintenance dose, and a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen followed in April 2026.

The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported an average weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks at the 2.4 mg dose, alongside lifestyle support. These figures come from a controlled clinical setting and should not be read as a guarantee for any individual, a prescriber considers your full picture before treatment starts. You can find the NHS patient-level explanation on the NHS semaglutide medicines page, which is a useful first stop if you want a plain-English overview of how the licensed medicine works.

If you are already familiar with the branded product and want a broader look at access routes, the Wegovy overview at nume covers eligibility, the clinical process and what to expect.

Step 3, recognise the risks of unlicensed "generic" products

We hear from people who feel frustrated that the branded medicine is expensive and genuinely want to understand whether a cheaper alternative exists. That frustration is completely understandable. But the honest answer is that no cheaper licensed alternative does exist in the UK right now, and the products filling that gap carry risks that outweigh any saving.

Unlicensed semaglutide products have not passed MHRA quality, safety or efficacy review. Concentration can differ from stated amounts. Some seizures have uncovered pens containing insulin rather than GLP-1 medicine, which can cause life-threatening hypoglycaemia if injected by a person without diabetes. The technique matters too: using the correct needle gauge, rotating injection sites correctly, and storing the pen at the right temperature all affect how well the medicine works and your comfort. Our guide to injecting semaglutide covers the steps your leaflet may not spell out clearly, but those steps only apply to the product you have been prescribed through a regulated supply chain.

For information on keeping any semaglutide injection at the correct temperature, the storage guide is worth reading before your first pen arrives. And if you want to understand where the licensed medicine originates and why supply matters, this page on semaglutide's supply chain explains the manufacturing background in plain terms.

Step 4, the legitimate route in the UK

The only lawful way to obtain a semaglutide injection in the UK is through a prescription issued following a proper clinical assessment. That assessment looks at your BMI, any weight-related conditions you have, your current medicines, and whether the injection is appropriate for you. The NHS route exists but currently operates under strict eligibility criteria and long waiting lists. Private prescribing through a GPhC-registered pharmacy is the alternative, no referral required, but no less clinical rigour.

At nume, every consultation is read by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber on the day you submit it. If the prescriber approves treatment, the order dispatches the same day if submitted before 12pm, and arrives by tracked DPD the next working day in plain packaging. You can verify our pharmacy registration directly on the GPhC register (premises number 9012878). Treatment is sourced through the licensed UK supply chain; that traceability is precisely what a generic or grey-market product cannot offer. If you are considering the injection and want to understand whether it suits your circumstances, speak to our prescribers through a free consultation and they will give you a straight answer.