Novo Nordisk gains 7% as UK approves oral Wegovy pill

The UK became the first European market to approve Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy (semaglutide) pill, sending the stock up 7% in a week.

"Today, around 15 million people in the UK are living with obesity, yet only a small proportion of them have access to treatment, and we hope this approval supports increasing access to obesity care in the UK," Emil Kongshøj Larsen, executive vice president of international operations at Novo Nordisk, said.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency authorized the once-daily tablet, making the UK the third country to license the drug after the US and the UAE. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the pill in December 2025, with US shelves stocked by January 2026. Novo Nordisk said the pills will be available via private prescription "within weeks" in the UK.

The oral formulation uses a SNAC coating to survive stomach acid and must be swallowed whole on an empty stomach with no more than 120ml of water, followed by a 30-minute wait before eating. In the global OASIS-4 trial, adults on a 25mg daily dose for 64 weeks lost an average of 16.6% of total body weight, compared with 2.7% for the placebo group. About 87% of participants lost at least 5% of their starting weight, and roughly one in three achieved a 20% reduction or more. Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 74% of participants, versus 42% in the placebo group, with most being mild to moderate and improving over time.

The approval arrives as GLP-1 drugs reshape consumer behavior in the UK. Survey data from Worldpanel by Numerator showed 1.9 million adults in the country are now on the medication, with the number of households using GLP-1 drugs nearly tripling in two years. Those households cut grocery spending by £780m ($1.04bn) in the first year, with 75% of users eating less chocolate and 72% eating fewer crisps. "These drugs are fundamentally disrupting how people engage with food and drink, with ripple effects already being felt across grocery and lifestyle," Chantel Kennaugh, head of public sector and nutrition at Worldpanel by Numerator, said.

Pricing for the oral treatment in the UK has not been confirmed, but US pricing offers a reference point. The official US list price is about $1,350 for a 30-day supply. UK industry estimates suggest mid-dose tablets could cost between £140 and £190 per month, rising above £200 for higher-strength maintenance doses.

The approval opens a new revenue stream for Novo Nordisk in a major market, expanding the patient base beyond those willing to use injections. The Danish pharmaceutical giant faces competitive pressure from Eli Lilly's tirzepatide-based drugs, and investors will watch UK prescription uptake in the coming quarters as a signal of oral GLP-1 adoption.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.