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SHIFT Radar · UK focus

Medicines &
Peptides Watch

What’s authorised, what’s being studied, and what it means in the UK. Clear evidence. Honest limits.

How we keep this credible ↓
6Medicines covered
5UK authorised
1Investigational

Weight-management focus · Reference review 15 September 2026

0 of 19 monitored sources have current, unchanged checks.

Latest check attempt: 15 Sept, 22:40 BST. Refresh status

Showing 6 of 6 medicines

UK authorised

Mounjaro

Tirzepatide · Weekly injection

Reference reviewed 15 September 2026 · Source check delayed

Some source checks are pending or delayed. Check the linked authority for the latest position.

What it does

Acts on GIP and GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite regulation.

Can support weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible adults.

UK position

UK authorised for adult weight management, alongside dietary changes and physical activity.

Trade-offs and limits

  • Digestive side effects are common.
  • Suitability, other medicines and treatment response need clinical review.

Access and availability

NHS — England: Eligible patients only. Access is phased; specialist services and primary care have different arrangements under NICE TA1026.

Private access: Private prescription route established. Individual pharmacy stock is not tracked here.

View evidence & source checks
UK authorised

Wegovy injection

Semaglutide · Weekly injection

Reference reviewed 15 September 2026 · Source check delayed

Some source checks are pending or delayed. Check the linked authority for the latest position.

What it does

A GLP-1 receptor agonist that acts on appetite regulation.

Can support weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible patients.

UK position

UK authorised for weight management alongside dietary changes and physical activity.

Trade-offs and limits

  • Digestive side effects are common.
  • Assessment and ongoing review are needed; authorised strengths do not all have identical NHS access.

Access and availability

NHS — England: Available to eligible patients under indication-specific guidance. Weight-management access follows NICE TA875; cardiovascular prevention has separate guidance.

Private access: Available through private prescription services following assessment. Supply varies.

View evidence & source checks
UK authorised

Wegovy tablet

Oral semaglutide · Daily tablet

Reference reviewed 15 September 2026 · Source check delayed

Some source checks are pending or delayed. Check the linked authority for the latest position.

What it does

A GLP-1 receptor agonist that acts on appetite regulation.

An oral formulation for eligible adults, used with dietary changes and physical activity.

UK position

UK authorised for adult weight management on 11 June 2026.

Trade-offs and limits

  • Specific fasting and administration instructions matter.
  • Digestive side effects remain possible; tablets and injections are not automatically interchangeable.

Access and availability

NHS — England: No NHS access confirmed in the reviewed sources. MHRA stated at approval that the tablet was not available through the NHS.

Private access: UK private provision is listed by the linked provider. This does not guarantee individual pharmacy stock.

View evidence & source checks
UK authorised

Orlistat

Orlistat · Capsules taken with meals

Reference reviewed 15 September 2026 · Source check delayed

Some source checks are pending or delayed. Check the linked authority for the latest position.

What it does

Reduces absorption of some dietary fat in the gut.

Can support weight loss alongside dietary changes and physical activity.

UK position

UK authorised. The prescription 120 mg and pharmacy 60 mg products have different conditions of use.

Trade-offs and limits

  • Oily stools, urgency and other digestive effects are common.
  • Medicine interactions and reduced absorption of some vitamins need consideration.

Access and availability

NHS — England: Prescription treatment is available for eligible patients following assessment.

Private access: 120 mg products require a prescription. Lower-dose 60 mg products can be supplied by a pharmacy when suitable.

View evidence & source checks
UK authorised

Foundayo

Orforglipron · Daily tablet

Reference reviewed 15 September 2026 · Source check delayed

Some source checks are pending or delayed. Check the linked authority for the latest position.

What it does

A non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist that acts on appetite regulation.

Can support weight loss and maintenance alongside dietary changes and physical activity.

UK position

UK authorised for adult weight management on 10 August 2026; it also has a type 2 diabetes indication.

Trade-offs and limits

  • Nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal symptoms can occur.
  • A prescription and individual clinical assessment are required.

Access and availability

NHS — England: No NHS access confirmed. NICE has a weight-management appraisal in development; authorisation is separate from an NHS funding decision.

Private access: Lilly confirmed UK private-prescription availability on 24 August 2026. Individual pharmacy stock is not tracked here.

View evidence & source checks
Investigational · not UK authorised

Retatrutide

Retatrutide · Weekly injection studied in trials

Reference reviewed 15 September 2026 · Source check delayed

Some source checks are pending or delayed. Check the linked authority for the latest position.

What it does

Acts on GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors.

Being studied for weight management. Sponsor-reported Phase 3 results do not establish an approved treatment.

UK position

Not authorised in the UK. MHRA confirmed this on 24 July 2026; later sponsor evidence still describes it as investigational.

Trade-offs and limits

  • Digestive symptoms and treatment discontinuations were reported in trials.
  • Longer-term outcomes and regulatory assessment remain important uncertainties.

Access and availability

NHS — England: No routine NHS weight-management access is confirmed; this remains research-stage treatment.

Private access: No approved UK retail treatment. Products marketed online are not equivalent to medicine supplied within a regulated trial.

View evidence & source checks

The evidence, kept honest

Checked regularly. Reviewed separately.

1. Go to the source

MHRA decisions, official product information, NHS guidance and original trial announcements. Every reference links to its evidence.

2. Watch for change

The source monitor attempts checks hourly. A changed, withdrawn, overdue or unreachable reference is flagged openly.

3. Review the meaning

A successful check does not renew the review date or confirm clinical advice. Changes need an evidence review before the wording changes.

This covers six selected weight-management medicines, not every medicine or peptide. UK authorisation, NHS funding and actual supply are different decisions. NHS access shown here relates to England; arrangements elsewhere in the UK can differ. Research results do not establish authorisation or guarantee an individual outcome.

General information, not individual medical advice. A clinician or pharmacist can help you understand suitability, risks and interactions. Do not use unapproved products sold as “research peptides”.

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