Which medicines contain semaglutide, and what are they licensed for in the UK?

Which branded medicines actually contain semaglutide?

Three products licensed in the UK contain semaglutide as the active ingredient. The most widely known for weight management is Wegovy, a once-weekly subcutaneous injection made by Novo Nordisk. It is approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above where at least one weight-related health condition is present. The injection titrates from 0.25 mg up through several steps to a maintenance dose; from January 2026 the MHRA also approved a higher 7.2 mg maintenance dose, with a dedicated single-dose pen approved that April for adults with a BMI of at least 30.

The second product is Ozempic, also a Novo Nordisk weekly injection and also semaglutide, but licensed specifically for type 2 diabetes, not weight management. It is easy to see why people confuse the two: identical molecule, broadly similar mechanism, very different regulatory status. The semaglutide in Ozempic is the same compound, but the licensed purpose, the dosing pathway and the clinical oversight are specific to diabetes care. Prescribing it for weight loss off-label is not the same as being prescribed a weight-loss medicine.

Third is Wegovy in tablet form. The MHRA approved oral semaglutide for weight management on 11 June 2026, co-formulated with an absorption enhancer called SNAC to allow the molecule to survive the digestive process. It is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition. A closer look at what Wegovy contains explains both the active ingredient and that absorption technology in more detail. The NHS semaglutide medicines page provides a clear overview of this drug class for anyone wanting the official patient-level summary.

Is Rybelsus the same as the Wegovy tablet, and does it contain semaglutide too?

Yes, Rybelsus also contains semaglutide and is also an oral tablet made by Novo Nordisk. But its licence is for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. The tablet strengths are 3 mg, 7 mg and 14 mg, entirely different rungs from the Wegovy weight-loss tablet schedule of 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg. The two products are not interchangeable, and a Rybelsus prescription cannot be used as a substitute for a Wegovy tablet prescription. If you come across a semaglutide tablet described with 3 mg or 7 mg steps in a weight-loss context, that is a sign something is wrong with the information you are reading.

A quick habit worth building: if you are researching any semaglutide product online, check that the source links to the actual product's licence or summary of product characteristics. You can find the official details for each medicine on the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), which lists the exact indication, dosing schedule and contraindications as approved by the MHRA. It takes under a minute. Products described without clear reference to their licensed indication deserve a second look before you take them at face value.

Understanding which drugs contain semaglutide is particularly relevant for anyone who has been prescribed one product and wonders whether another would work the same way. The short answer is that the molecule is shared; the clinical context is not.

How does semaglutide work inside these products, and why does the format matter?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a gut hormone called GLP-1 that is released after eating, signalling fullness to the brain and slowing the rate at which the stomach empties. The result, in practice, is that people eating less than they otherwise would feel more comfortable doing so. The injection delivers semaglutide directly into the bloodstream via the fatty tissue under the skin, which is why absorption is consistent. The tablet has to survive stomach acid and intestinal enzymes, which is where SNAC comes in, without it, oral semaglutide would be broken down before it could act. That difference in absorption pathway is one reason the dose for the weight-loss tablet (up to 25 mg daily) is considerably higher than the injection maintenance dose.

Format also affects how people experience treatment practically. The injection requires refrigerated storage and weekly self-administration; the tablet is room-temperature stable, taken once daily before breakfast with a small amount of plain water, which many people find easier to fit into a routine. Neither is objectively superior for everyone. A prescriber can help you think through which is more likely to suit your circumstances. The weight-loss treatment overview covers both options and the factors that tend to influence the choice, including what trial evidence says about likely outcomes.

In the OASIS 4 phase-3 trial, adults taking the oral semaglutide tablet for 64 weeks lost an average of around 13.6% of their body weight compared with around 2.4% on placebo. Among participants who adhered fully to the treatment schedule, the average was closer to 17%. The STEP 1 trial of the 2.4 mg weekly injection reported around 15% average weight loss over 68 weeks. Both figures come from clinical-trial conditions alongside structured lifestyle changes, and individual results will vary. None of this means one product is right for you specifically. That is the conversation a prescriber is there to have.

Does any gluten, allergen or excipient concern carry across to semaglutide products?

People with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity sometimes ask whether semaglutide products are safe for them. The answer for the Wegovy injection is generally reassuring (it does not contain gluten-derived ingredients) but the formal place to verify any allergen or excipient concern is the product's patient information leaflet or SmPC, because formulations can change and individual sensitivities vary. The page on whether semaglutide contains gluten addresses this more specifically.

Other questions about bone health sometimes arise too, particularly for people who have been on treatment for an extended period. If that is on your mind, the page on how Wegovy affects bone density covers what the current evidence shows. It is a reminder that semaglutide-containing products touch more than appetite, a prescriber reviewing your case will consider your full picture, including any conditions or medicines that might interact with treatment. You can read about our clinical team's approach on the clinical team page.

If you have read enough to want a clinical view on which semaglutide-containing product, if any, might be appropriate for you, start your free consultation with our prescribers. There is no obligation, and the assessment is reviewed by a real clinician the same day.