Wegovy's generic name is semaglutide — here's what that actually means

Step 1, understand what a generic name is and why semaglutide has one

Every medicine has two names. The brand name belongs to the manufacturer; the generic name (properly called the International Non-proprietary Name (INN)) belongs to everyone. Semaglutide is the INN assigned to this molecule by the World Health Organization, and it is the name you will find in the British National Formulary, on prescriptions, and in clinical trial publications. Wegovy is simply Novo Nordisk's brand name for semaglutide at the 2.4mg weekly dose formulated for weight management.

The distinction matters in practice. When you read about STEP 1, SURMOUNT-5 or any other trial, the drug being tested is semaglutide, not a brand. When your prescriber writes the prescription, they are prescribing semaglutide. The brand name on the box tells you which manufacturer made it; the generic name tells you what it actually is. You can read more about the semaglutide molecule and its uses on our semaglutide overview page.

A common misconception is that having a generic name means a cheaper, generic version of the drug is already available. It isn't, not yet. Generic medicines only enter the market after the originator's patents expire, and semaglutide patents have years to run. When semaglutide might go generic is a question worth understanding separately.

Step 2, see how the same generic name covers very different licensed products

Semaglutide appears in the UK under three brand names, and the differences between them are clinical, not cosmetic. Wegovy (weekly injection, up to 2.4mg, and now also a 7.2mg pen approved by the MHRA in April 2026) is licensed for weight management. Ozempic (weekly injection, up to 1mg or 2mg) is licensed for type 2 diabetes, and the MHRA is clear that it is not approved for weight loss. Rybelsus is an oral tablet (3mg, 7mg, 14mg) also licensed for type 2 diabetes, not weight management.

In June 2026 the MHRA approved a fourth product: Wegovy tablets, oral semaglutide co-formulated with an absorption enhancer, titrated from 1.5mg daily up to a 25mg maintenance dose. This is the first oral GLP-1 medicine licensed in the UK for weight management. Its generic name is still semaglutide, but its dose, formulation and licensed purpose are distinct from Rybelsus. The difference between Wegovy's brand and generic names covers this in more detail.

The NHS tirzepatide page and the NHS semaglutide medicine page both use the generic names throughout, which is a useful reminder that the generic name is the clinical constant, whatever the box says.

Step 3, know what semaglutide does and why the dose format changes things

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a gut hormone released after eating; semaglutide mimics it in a modified form that stays active in the body for roughly a week. The result is reduced appetite, slower gastric emptying and better blood-sugar regulation, all from a single weekly injection or daily tablet, depending on the product.

The degree of weight loss people experience in trials varies with dose and duration. In the STEP 1 study (68 weeks, 2.4mg weekly injection, adults with obesity), participants lost an average of around 15% of body weight. The newer 7.2mg dose has shown results approaching those of tirzepatide in trials. Oral semaglutide (Wegovy tablets) produced around 13.6% average weight loss over 64 weeks in the OASIS 4 trial, rising to roughly 17% among participants who adhered fully to treatment. These are clinical trial averages; individual results depend on dose reached, lifestyle changes and other factors. If you are weighing up which formulation might suit you, our weight-loss treatment overview sets out the options.

For a side-by-side look at how Wegovy's generic name, dose history and brand positioning fit together, the Wegovy generic names page goes into further depth.

Step 4, check whether you can access semaglutide and what a legitimate route looks like

Because semaglutide products are prescription-only medicines, the generic name on its own doesn't open any door to treatment. A prescriber must assess whether the medicine is clinically appropriate for you. On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services under NICE guidance (TA875), though waiting lists in many areas are long. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is also now recommended by NICE (TA1026) and is being rolled out through GP practices, with eligibility criteria applied in phases.

Private treatment through a GPhC-registered online pharmacy is the route many people choose when they don't meet the current NHS thresholds or would rather not wait. At nume, a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber personally reviews every consultation, not software. Our clinical approach and the prescribers behind it are transparent and verifiable. You can check any online pharmacy on the GPhC register at pharmacy registration 9012878.

Treatment cost is a practical question for most people. Our Wegovy price comparison sets out what private semaglutide treatment typically costs in the UK and what to look for when comparing providers. When you're ready to understand your own eligibility, checking your eligibility through a free consultation is the natural next step.