Three-quarters of pharmacies expect surge in demand for weight-loss pill
National Pharmacy Association says the availability of oral semaglutide (Wegovy; Novo Nordisk) “is particularly significant for patients who cannot or do not want to take an injectable medicine”.
Steve Travelguide / .com
More than three-quarters (76%) of pharmacies expect to start “significant numbers” of eligible patients on oral Wegovy (semaglutide; Novo Nordisk), a survey by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has found
The results — published on 6 July 2026 and based on a survey of 310 pharmacy owners across the UK — also revealed that almost half (49%) of pharmacies had received an “increased number of queries from patients wanting to start treatment” since the pill was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in June 2026
The results also showed that 97% of pharmacies were concerned that the treatment would result in an increase of fake or unlicensed weight loss pills being sold on the black market
A statement released by the NPA said: “The NPA [is] urging patients to only access the new treatment through regulated pharmacies after a thorough two-way consultation, with previous NPA research having found that patients at two in five pharmacies had unwittingly bought medicines online from unregulated providers last year.”
Oral Wegovy launched on 6 July 2026 in 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg strengths. The pill will be available in 1.5mg and 4mg strengths in some pharmacies as part of private weight management programmes for eligible patients. It is not currently available on the NHS
Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “This is a significant day and pharmacies are bracing themselves for a surge in demand for this new form of weight-loss treatment
“This is particularly significant for patients who cannot or do not want to take an injectable medicine
“The NHS roll out remains extremely slow and community pharmacy is ready to support a wider roll out, which will help eligible patients access treatment safely and help mitigate the impact of obesity on the NHS.”
However, he added: “As this survey shows, pharmacies are concerned about a dangerous and growing black market for weight loss medicines, with tablet form of medication likely to be easier for criminals to counterfeit
“Patients should be wary of sites offering medicines at a cost that is too good to be true or providers who are not offering consultations before prescribing.”
A spokesperson for the MHRA told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “The MHRA takes a layered approach to tackling the threat posed by fake and illegally supplied medicines, including weight-loss products. We work closely with law enforcement partners, other regulators and customs agencies, both in the UK and internationally, to uphold medicines legislation and disrupt criminal supply chains
“We also collaborate with industry to tackle the online sale of illegally traded medicines and deliver public health messages aimed at reducing both supply and demand
“We remain vigilant to emerging threats relating to unauthorised and falsified weight-loss products and, where necessary, will take appropriate enforcement action to protect public health.”
On 3 July 2026, the MHRA approved Wegovy injections to treat a form of liver disease for the first time
A statement from the MHRA said it had approved the treatment for metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis
MASH develops when excess fat in the liver causes inflammation and scarring. Patients are more likely to develop the condition if they have obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or high blood lipid levels
Semaglutide was approved to treat MASH “on the condition that further results from an ongoing study in adults with MASH and moderate to advanced liver scarring will be submitted”, the MHRA said
“The product has a conditional marketing authorisation because further confirmatory evidence is required of its efficacy and safety as a treatment for MASH before a full marketing authorisation can be issued,” it added
Pamela Healy, chief executive at the British Liver Trust, commented: “Fatty liver disease, also known as metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), affects up to one in five people in the UK and is fast becoming a leading cause of advanced liver disease and liver cancer. “The licensing of Wegovy is an important milestone, with studies showing it can help improve liver inflammation and fibrosis. This gives us a real opportunity to intervene earlier and treat people living with MASH, a more advanced form of MASLD associated with liver inflammation and fibrosis, to slow progression to serious, life-threatening liver damage.”
Amira Guirguis, chief scientist at the Royal College of Pharmacy, said: “The MHRA’s approval of semaglutide for adults with MASH and moderate-to-advanced fibrosis marks an important milestone. MASH is associated with obesity and T2DM, yet until recently treatment options have been limited
“This approval reflects growing evidence that semaglutide may help treat the underlying disease, offering a new option for some patients.”
Last updated 6 July 2026 14:08
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ July 2026, Vol 320, No 8011;320(8011)::DOI:10.1211/PJ.2026.1.418912
You may also be interested in
Everything you need to know about GLP-1s for weight loss
Community pharmacies receive government obesity care funding
