Pharmacies fear new weight loss pills will lead to rise in dangerous fakes

A new pill version of a popular weight loss drug, available in the UK for the first time this week, could be faked and sold on the black market, experts have warned.

The Wegovy tablet, made by Novo Nordisk, was approved by the UK's medicines regulator last month and was made available to the public on Monday.

But pharmacists fear the new form of semaglutide could lead to a rise in fake or unlicensed weight loss pills being sold by criminal gangs.

The drug was already available in injectable form, but a needle-free option is expected to have broader appeal.

Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said the availability of a tablet version could make it "easier for criminals to counterfeit".

A survey of 310 pharmacies by the NPA found 97% were concerned the change could lead to an increase in fake pills being sold.

Mr Picard said: "As this survey shows, pharmacies are concerned about a dangerous and growing black market for weight loss medicines, with tablet form of medication likely to be easier for criminals to counterfeit.

"Patients should be wary of sites offering medicines at a cost that is too good to be true or providers who are not offering consultations before prescribing.

"If anyone is concerned by a medicine they have bought online, they should speak to their local pharmacist for advice."

The starting dose is 1.5mg, rising to 4mg, 9mg and 25mg - with patients required to be on each dose level for at least a month before going up.

The same survey found 76% of pharmacies expect a significant number of new patients on the pill in the coming months.

And 49% said they had already experienced a sure in enquiries about the drug.

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Mr Pichard said: "This is a significant day and pharmacies are bracing themselves for a surge in demand for this new form of weight loss treatment.

"This is particularly significant for patients who cannot or do not want to take an injectable medicine.

"The NHS rollout remains extremely slow and community pharmacy is ready to support a wider rollout, which will help eligible patients access treatment safely and help mitigate the impact of obesity on the NHS."

The daily Wegovy Pill contains the same active ingredient as the weekly injection, and is almost as effective, with users losing on average of just under 14% of their body weight over 64 weeks.

(c) Sky News 2026: Pharmacies fear new weight loss pills will lead to rise in dangerous fakes