UK health regulator ensuring medicines and devices are safe
The MHRA has authorised orforglipron (Foundayo), a GLP-1 pill, for weight management and type 2 diabetes. It will be available privately with a prescription; NHS adoption will depend on NICE evaluation. The UK follows Europe in authorising an oral GLP-1 pill, with Wegovy already on the market.
Weight-loss GLP-1 drugs are expanding beyond injections to pills in the US, UK and UAE. Major manufacturers report rising uptake and ongoing development, with Medicare and NHS access shaping pace and affordability. Private prescriptions and new formulations are widening access while competition accelerates.
A new weight‑loss pill version of semaglutide has launched in the UK for private prescriptions, offering an alternative to injections. The tablet requires strict dosing and a fasting routine and is not yet NHS‑funded. Several outlets warn about counterfeit pills as access broadens.
Vivani Medical and Novo Nordisk are exploring a long-acting semaglutide implant to maintain weight loss, potentially replacing frequent injections. The device aims to release medicine steadily for months, pending clinical and regulatory validation.
Regulators are reviewing a BMJ study linking GLP-1 receptor agonists to a higher risk of alopecia. The study compares hair-loss rates in GLP-1 users against SGLT-2 and DPP-4 inhibitors, with findings suggesting a 37% higher risk versus SGLT-2 and 68% higher versus DPP-4. Hair loss appears non-scarring and potentially reversible, often tied to weight loss and nutritional factors.