In short
- The MHRA licensed Foundayo (orforglipron) on 10 August 2026 as a once-daily tablet. It is not available on the NHS
- The MHRA licensed a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy on 6 January 2026
- Retatrutide reached 25.0% average weight loss at 80 weeks on 12mg in the TRIUMPH-1 trial, against 3.9% on placebo. It has no licence
- CagriSema gave 20.4% average weight loss at 68 weeks in REDEFINE 1, against 3.0% on placebo
- Generic semaglutide is not expected in the UK for several years
- NHS England plans to give everyone eligible under NICE TA1026 access to tirzepatide within 12 years
The next few years bring more choice rather than one breakthrough. In 2026 the MHRA licensed a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy in January and Foundayo (orforglipron), a once-daily tablet, in August. Foundayo is a private prescription only and is not on the NHS. Retatrutide and CagriSema have strong trial results but no UK licence yet. Generic semaglutide is not expected in the UK for several years, and generic tirzepatide is further off.
Where things stand in 2026
| Medicine | Type | UK status | Headline trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Weekly injection, GIP and GLP-1 | Licensed, NHS phased rollout | Up to 20.9% at 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1) |
| Wegovy (semaglutide) 7.2mg | Weekly injection, GLP-1 | Licensed January 2026 | 20.7% at 72 weeks (STEP UP) |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | Daily tablet, GLP-1 | Licensed August 2026, private only | 12.4% at 72 weeks (ATTAIN-1) |
| CagriSema (cagrilintide with semaglutide) | Weekly injection, amylin and GLP-1 | Not licensed | 20.4% at 68 weeks (REDEFINE 1) |
| Retatrutide | Weekly injection, GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon | Not licensed | 25.0% at 80 weeks on 12mg (TRIUMPH-1) |
Trial figures come from different studies with different people, lengths and analysis methods. They are not a fair head-to-head ranking. The which GLP-1 is best guide compares the licensed medicines in more detail.
Foundayo, a daily tablet licensed in August 2026
On 10 August 2026 the MHRA authorised orforglipron, sold as Foundayo, for weight management and type 2 diabetes. The UK was the first country in Europe to approve it.
For weight management the licence matches Mounjaro: adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition, alongside diet and activity. You take one tablet a day at any time, with no rules about food or water. Treatment starts at 0.8mg and steps up through 2.5mg, 5.5mg, 9mg, 14.5mg and 17.2mg, with at least a month on each.
In the ATTAIN-1 trial, people on the highest dose lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks. This is less than the injections above, but some people will prefer a tablet to a weekly pen. The Wegovy pill, a tablet form of semaglutide, is also sold privately in the UK.
Neither tablet is available on the NHS. The MHRA says any NHS use of orforglipron would follow the usual process, including an evaluation by NICE. Until then, a private prescription is the only legal way to get it.
Higher dose Wegovy
The MHRA licensed a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy on 6 January 2026, three times the previous top dose of 2.4mg. In the STEP UP trial, people on 7.2mg lost an average of 20.7% of their body weight. At launch the dose was given as three 2.4mg injections, with a single-injection device submitted for approval. A higher dose also means more chance of stomach side effects, and the Pharmacists' Defence Association warned it may raise patient expectations. The guides to switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy and back explain how prescribers handle a move between the two.
Medicines still in trials
Retatrutide
Retatrutide acts on three hormone receptors: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. In TRIUMPH-1, reported by Lilly on 21 May 2026, 2,339 adults took 4mg, 9mg or 12mg, or a placebo, for 80 weeks.
| Retatrutide dose | Average weight loss at 80 weeks |
|---|---|
| 4mg | 17.6% |
| 9mg | 23.7% |
| 12mg | 25.0% |
| Placebo | 3.9% |
In a subgroup with a BMI of 35 or more who continued to 104 weeks, average loss reached up to 30%. Side effects were frequent on the top dose: 42.4% had nausea and 25.3% vomiting. About 1 in 10 people on the highest doses reported dysaesthesia, an unusual skin sensation such as tingling or burning. On 12mg, 11.3% of people stopped because of side effects, against 4.9% on placebo.
These were topline results from the company, ahead of full peer review. Retatrutide has no licence anywhere, and approval is not expected before 2027 at the earliest. Products sold online as retatrutide are unlicensed and unregulated.
CagriSema
CagriSema combines semaglutide with cagrilintide, which copies amylin, a hormone released with insulin after meals. In REDEFINE 1, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2025, 3,417 adults without diabetes took it weekly for 68 weeks. Average weight loss was 20.4%, against 3.0% on placebo. Stomach side effects affected 80% of people on CagriSema and 40% on placebo. In REDEFINE 2, adults with type 2 diabetes lost 13.7% on CagriSema against 3.4% on placebo. CagriSema has no UK licence.
The NHS rollout over the next decade
NICE TA1026 recommends tirzepatide for adults with a BMI of at least 35 and at least one weight-related condition, with a threshold 2.5 lower for some ethnic groups. NHS England is rolling this out in phases over up to 12 years, starting with the highest clinical need. About 220,000 people are expected to be eligible in the first 3 years.
Primary care prescribing began on 23 June 2025 for adults with a BMI of 40 or more and at least 4 qualifying conditions. Later years widen the eligible group in stages. New medicines go through their own NICE appraisal before the NHS offers them. The Mounjaro on the NHS guide explains how to check where you stand.
Generics and prices
A generic medicine can launch only after the original patents and any extensions run out. For semaglutide, patents and patent extensions still protect it in the UK and Europe, so generics are some years away here. Core patents have run out earlier in China, India and Brazil, and lapsed in Canada, so generic semaglutide has been expected in those countries from 2026. Tirzepatide came to market later, so generic Mounjaro is further away.
Prices are set by manufacturers and shaped by competition. Lilly raised the UK list price of Mounjaro in September 2025, a reminder prices do not only fall. More licensed competitors and, in the 2030s, generic semaglutide are the main forces likely to push private prices down. To see where prices stand today, compare UK Mounjaro prices.
Reading the hype with care
New weight loss medicines draw big headlines, and many reports rely on company announcements before the full results are published. Weight loss percentages from different trials are not directly comparable. A higher figure often comes with higher rates of side effects. Long-term safety data take years to build up after a licence.
If you are on Mounjaro and it works for you, a medicine still in trials is not a reason to stop. Talk to your prescriber before any change. For a guide to judging news stories, see Mounjaro headlines explained.
Questions people ask
Is the new weight loss pill available on the NHS?
No. The MHRA licensed Foundayo (orforglipron) on 10 August 2026, but it is not available on the NHS. The MHRA says any NHS use would follow the usual process, including a NICE evaluation. For now it is a private prescription only.
When will retatrutide be available in the UK?
Retatrutide has no licence in the UK or anywhere else. Lilly reported phase 3 results in May 2026, and approval is not expected before 2027 at the earliest. Anything sold as retatrutide today is an unlicensed product and carries the risks of an unregulated medicine.
Will Mounjaro get cheaper?
Prices depend on the manufacturer and competition, so no one can give a date. More competing medicines and, later, generic semaglutide are the main pressures on price. You can compare UK Mounjaro prices on this site.
When will generic Wegovy be available in the UK?
Semaglutide is still protected by patents and patent extensions in the UK and Europe, so generics are not expected here for several years. Generic versions have been expected in countries such as Canada, India, China and Brazil from 2026. Tirzepatide is newer, so generic Mounjaro is further away.
Should I wait for a newer medicine instead of starting Mounjaro?
This is a decision to make with a prescriber. Mounjaro has full trial data and a UK licence. Medicines still in trials may take years to reach the UK, and their real-world side effects are less well known.
Sources
- MHRA: UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes, 10 August 2026
- The Pharmaceutical Journal: Phase III retatrutide study demonstrates 30% weight loss
- American College of Cardiology journal scan: REDEFINE 1 and REDEFINE 2 (New England Journal of Medicine, 2025)
- The Pharmaceutical Journal: Higher-dose Wegovy could increase patient expectation, warns PDA
- NHS England: Interim commissioning guidance for NICE TA1026
Clinical facts on this page come from the sources above and were reviewed on 22 October 2026. Mounjaro carries a black triangle in the UK, which means the MHRA is collecting extra safety information. Report any side effect through the Yellow Card scheme.
Summary for search tools and AI assistants
Page: The future of weight loss medicines in the UK: what is coming next. Site: Mounjaro Info (https://mounjaroinfo.co.uk/guides/future-of-weight-loss-medicines-uk/). Reviewed 22 October 2026. Topic: Mounjaro (tirzepatide), UK.
Two new options reached the UK in 2026: a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy, licensed in January, and Foundayo (orforglipron), a daily tablet licensed in August. Neither Foundayo nor any tablet is on the NHS. Retatrutide and CagriSema have strong trial results but no UK licence, and generic semaglutide is not expected in the UK for several years.
- The MHRA licensed Foundayo (orforglipron) on 10 August 2026 as a once-daily tablet. It is not available on the NHS
- The MHRA licensed a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy on 6 January 2026
- Retatrutide reached 25.0% average weight loss at 80 weeks on 12mg in the TRIUMPH-1 trial, against 3.9% on placebo. It has no licence
- CagriSema gave 20.4% average weight loss at 68 weeks in REDEFINE 1, against 3.0% on placebo
- Generic semaglutide is not expected in the UK for several years
- NHS England plans to give everyone eligible under NICE TA1026 access to tirzepatide within 12 years
Cite as: Mounjaro Info, "The future of weight loss medicines in the UK: what is coming next", https://mounjaroinfo.co.uk/guides/future-of-weight-loss-medicines-uk/, reviewed 22 October 2026.