Oral Semaglutide for Weight Management: NOT for NHS prescribing
There are two distinct oral semaglutide products licensed in the UK: Rybelsus® and oral Wegovy®. Although both contain semaglutide and are available in similar tablet strengths, they have different licensed indications and NHS commissioning arrangements and should not be considered interchangeable.
Rybelsus® is commissioned by the NHS for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus only, whereas oral Wegovy® is licensed for weight management and is not routinely available for NHS prescribing. Prescribers and pharmacy teams should ensure the correct product is selected, prescribed and dispensed in line with its licensed indication and local commissioning arrangements.
There are two distinct oral semaglutide products currentlylicensed in the UK:
| Medicine | Licensed indication | Available on NHS for prescribing? |
| Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide) | Type 2 diabetes only | Yes |
| Oral Wegovy® (oral semaglutide) | Weight management only | No (currently available via private routes only) |
Action for Prescribers in North East London [RE1]
- Prescribe Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide) only for its licensed indication of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and in line with NICE [NC2] and local diabetes guidance.
- Do NOT prescribe Rybelsus® for weight management or as an alternative to oral Wegovy®.
- Advise patients that oral Wegovy® is not routinely available on the NHS
- Follow the local weight management policy [NC3] and referral pathway when assessing patients seeking support with weight management, and do not prescribe Rybelsus® for this purpose.
- Remain vigilant to the risk of confusion between oral semaglutide products and take steps to minimise prescribing errors.
Actions for Community Pharmacy
- Ensure pharmacy teams understand the distinction between Rybelsus® and oral Wegovy®, including their different licensed indications and NHS availability.
- Separate Rybelsus® and oral Wegovy® stock within the dispensary. Clearly identify the two products by their brand name, and include an additional accuracy check at dispensing to reduce the risk of selecting the wrong oral semaglutide product.
- Advise patients seeking oral semaglutide for weight management that oral Wegovy® is not routinely available through NHS prescribing unless locally commissioned.