GLP‑1 medicines have reshaped weight management and type 2 diabetes care, but injections are a barrier for some people. UK searches for GLP‑1 tablets, GLP‑1 tablets for weight loss, Wegovy pills, and Mounjaro tablets reflect that demand.

The key point: Wegovy and Mounjaro are currently injections, not tablets, but several oral GLP‑1 options are moving through late‑stage trials and regulatory review.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for personalised medical advice.

‍

Are Mounjaro and Wegovy available in tablet form yet?

‍

Not in the UK. There are currently no MHRA‑licensed Wegovy tablets or Mounjaro tablets available to prescribe or dispense in UK pharmacies. The MHRA product listings for semaglutide show Wegovy is available as an injection while Rybelsus is listed as tablets, so “Wegovy tablets” are not yet a licensed UK product.

For tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro), Eli Lilly states tirzepatide is not available in pill form and is supplied as an injectable medicine.

What does exist today is Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) which is a GLP‑1 tablet for type 2 diabetes (and it’s not licensed for weight loss in the UK).

If you see online sellers advertising “Wegovy tablets” or “Mounjaro pills”, treat that as a red flag. UK guidance stresses that GLP‑1 medicines should be used within their licensed indications and obtained through regulated routes, not from unverified sources.

‍

When can we expect Mounjaro or Wegovy to be available in tablet form in the UK?

‍

2026 is likely for major milestones, but UK availability is uncertain. Two big developments matter:

• Oral semaglutide 25 mg (“Wegovy in a pill”): the FDA in the US accepted Novo Nordisk’s application for chronic weight management, with a decision expected in late 2025.

• OASIS 4 results: published in 2025, showing meaningful weight loss vs placebo at 64 weeks.

Even if US/EU decisions come first, the UK still needs MHRA authorisation, so “headline approval” and “available in clinics” can be months apart.

For Mounjaro tablets specifically: there is no authorised tirzepatide tablet yet, nor is one planned, so any date estimate is speculative.

‍

What are GLP-1 tablets?

‍

GLP‑1 tablets are oral medicines that activate GLP‑1 pathways to improve blood‑sugar control and (in some programmes) support weight loss. GLP‑1 activity helps increase insulin release when glucose is high, reduce glucagon, slow stomach emptying, and increase fullness.

Most GLP‑1 medicines have historically been injections. Tablets aim to give people another option, especially those who dislike needles or find injecting difficult.

‍

How GLP-1 and related oral tablets will work

‍

The goal is the same as injections: appetite regulation and glucose control—but orally it’s harder. Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are peptides, and peptides can be broken down in the digestive tract before they are absorbed.

That’s why oral peptide GLP‑1s typically need protective formulations and absorption strategies, plus clear timing rules (food can reduce absorption). Separately, Lilly’s small‑molecule GLP‑1 pill (orforglipron) are designed differently and may avoid some stomach acid-related difficulties associated with taking traditional GLP-1 medicines by mouth.

‍

Where are GLP-1 pills and tablets in the development process?

‍

Available now (UK):

• Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) for type 2 diabetes (not a UK‑licensed weight‑loss tablet).

Near‑term contenders for weight management:

• Oral semaglutide 25 mg (“Wegovy in a pill”): FDA has accepted the application; OASIS 4 results published in 2025.

• Orforglipron (Lilly): Lilly says it submitted for obesity/overweight in 2025 and plans a type 2 diabetes submission in 2026; reporting suggests key US decisions could land in 2026.

Setbacks happen:

• Pfizer announced it discontinued danuglipron (an oral GLP‑1 candidate) in 2025.

Key players to watch: Novo Nordisk is leading oral semaglutide development, while Eli Lilly is pushing hard on small‑molecule pills (which may be simpler to manufacture at scale than peptide injections).

‍

How do orfoglipron and Wegovy tablets differ to the injectable formulations?

‍

Expect differences in routine use. Compared with weekly injections, tablets usually mean:

• daily dosing,

• more absorption sensitivity (food/timing/other medicines) for semaglutide or Wegovy,

• and potentially a higher milligram dose for oral peptide formulations, such as Wegovy.

Tablets can reduce needle‑related barriers, but may introduce “schedule” barriers—especially for peptide tablets with fasting instructions.

‍

Do the results differ between oral tablets and injectable weight loss medications?

‍

Sometimes—but the gap is narrowing. Earlier GLP‑1 tablets (like diabetes‑dose oral semaglutide) tend to produce modest weight loss compared with injectable obesity‑dose GLP‑1s, as summarised in the earlier Phlo Clinic blog.

Newer obesity‑focused oral data are stronger. In OASIS 4, oral semaglutide 25 mg produced about 13.6% mean weight loss at 64 weeks vs 2.2% with placebo (with higher “on‑treatment” results reported).

Meanwhile, orforglipron has shown late‑stage evidence supporting use as weight‑loss maintenance after injectables, a realistic long‑term strategy once approved.

‍

Safety Profile and Side Effects expected with orforglipron & Wegovy oral tablets

‍

Side effects are expected to resemble the GLP‑1 class, especially gastrointestinal effects. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and reduced appetite can be common particularly during dose escalation at the start of treatment.

Other safety topics clinicians monitor include hypoglycaemia risk (low blood sugar, more common with insulin/sulfonylureas), pancreatitis/gallbladder disease, and eye‑related safety signals. The EMA has concluded that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide medicines (including Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy).

‍

Will these require different administration guidelines than injectables?

‍

Yes, especially peptide tablets such as Wegovy. Oral semaglutide is the best‑known example of a GLP‑1 tablet with absorption‑related rules. Typical guidance includes:

• take on an empty stomach with water only,

• wait ~30 minutes before food/drink/other oral medicines,

• start low and titrate slowly to reduce nausea.

‍

Summary

‍

There are no Wegovy tablets or Mounjaro tablets in the UK today but 2026 is likely to be pivotal for oral GLP‑1s. Rybelsus already provides an oral GLP‑1 option for type 2 diabetes.

Next, oral semaglutide 25 mg (“Wegovy in a pill”) is under regulatory review with strong phase 3 evidence, and orforglipron represents a newer small‑molecule oral GLP‑1 pathway with potential decisions in 2026.

For UK patients, the most accurate expectation is: watch for approvals and rollout news in 2026, but plan for real‑world access to depend on MHRA decisions, supply, and NHS commissioning pathways.

‍

References

‍

• MHRA Product Information: semaglutide listings (Rybelsus tablets and Wegovy injection).

• Eli Lilly medical information: tirzepatide is not available as an oral formulation.

• GOV.UK: GLP‑1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes—licensed use and safety messaging.

• Reuters: FDA acceptance of Novo Nordisk’s application for oral Wegovy (oral semaglutide 25 mg).

• OASIS 4 (NEJM summary via ACC) and related reporting on weight‑loss outcomes.

• Eli Lilly: overview of orforglipron and submission plans; Reuters: orforglipron maintenance trial and potential 2026 timing.

• Pfizer: discontinuation of danuglipron development (company update/press release).

• EMA: NAION assessed as a very rare side effect of semaglutide medicines.