Tirzepatide
Mounjaro
UK licence, the NHS England rollout, and consultation time under heavy demand
Medicines and work
GLP-1 medicines and workplace pressure
Licence facts for each GLP-1 medicine used in the UK, and guides to the demand, safety and commercial pressure pharmacy and prescribing teams face.
General information for healthcare staff, not medical advice. Pharma Mate does not sell, prescribe or supply any medicine, and these pages give no dosing instructions.
Short answer
Pharma Mate covers six GLP-1 based medicines licensed in the UK as of October 2026. Mounjaro, Wegovy, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo are licensed for weight management, while Ozempic and Rybelsus are licensed only for type 2 diabetes. All are prescription-only medicines, and suspected side effects go to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
The six medicines compared
| Medicine | Active ingredient | Form | Main UK licensed use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes and weight management |
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | Weekly injection | Weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction |
| Wegovy pill | Semaglutide | Daily tablet | Weight management (authorised 11 June 2026) |
| Foundayo | Orforglipron | Daily tablet | Weight management and type 2 diabetes (authorised 10 August 2026) |
| Ozempic | Semaglutide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes only |
| Rybelsus | Semaglutide | Daily tablet | Type 2 diabetes only |
Liraglutide, an older GLP-1 medicine sold under several brands, is not covered here. Its licensed use depends on the brand. Three brands contain semaglutide, and two of the newest products are tablets. Brand, form and indication all need checking at every prescription. NHS access differs between products: Mounjaro is part of a phased NHS rollout for weight management in England, Wegovy injections are prescribed through specialist weight management services, and the Wegovy pill and Foundayo are not available on the NHS.
Medicine pages
Semaglutide injection
Wegovy
Licensed uses, NICE TA875 access and keeping judgement ahead of marketing
Semaglutide tablet
Wegovy pill
The June 2026 licence, how the tablet is taken and launch pressure
Orforglipron tablet
Foundayo
The August 2026 UK licence, a fast US review and fair questions
Semaglutide injection
Ozempic
A diabetes medicine, brand confusion and the 2023 shortage alert
Semaglutide tablet
Rybelsus
A daily diabetes tablet and the risk of mixing up oral semaglutide products
All GLP-1 medicines
GLP-1 safety conversations
MHRA safety points, pregnancy advice and how to report side effects
Regulation
Approval speed and evidence
MHRA timelines, recognition of overseas decisions and questions to ask
Related workplace guides
Demand for weight-loss medicines has changed the working day for many pharmacists, GPs, nurse prescribers and pharmacy teams. These guides cover the pressures staff raise most often.
Targets and incentives
Commercial pressure and clinical judgement
Sales targets, promotions and keeping decisions clinical
Consultations
Pressure to prescribe
What to say and record when a patient or manager expects a yes
Supply
Medicine demand and shortages
A fair team response when weight-loss demand affects diabetes patients
Patient safety
Raising patient-safety concerns
How to describe a specific risk and escalate inside and outside your organisation
Common questions
Which GLP-1 medicines are licensed for weight loss in the UK?
As of October 2026, Mounjaro, Wegovy injection, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo are licensed for weight management in the UK. Some liraglutide brands also hold a weight-management licence. Ozempic and Rybelsus are licensed only for type 2 diabetes.
Which weight-loss medicines are available on the NHS?
Mounjaro is being rolled out in phases for weight management in England under NICE TA1026, and Wegovy injections are prescribed through specialist weight management services under NICE TA875. The Wegovy pill and Foundayo are not available on the NHS.
Are there GLP-1 tablets for weight loss in the UK?
Yes. The MHRA authorised the Wegovy pill on 11 June 2026 and Foundayo on 10 August 2026. Both are once-daily tablets on private prescription only.
Where do I report a side effect from a GLP-1 medicine?
Report to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, online or through the Yellow Card app. Healthcare staff and patients can both report.