Wegovy vs Ozempic: the differences explained
Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk, and both are injected once a week. Their UK licences differ: Wegovy is licensed for weight management, and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes in adults. Each has its own pens and strengths, from 0.25 mg up to 7.2 mg for Wegovy and up to 2 mg for Ozempic.
Side by side at a glance
| Fact | Wegovy | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| Active substance | Semaglutide | Semaglutide |
| How the SmPC describes it | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| How it is taken | An injection under the skin once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals, in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. | An injection under the skin once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals, in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. |
| Pen or tablet | FlexTouch pre-filled pen holding 4 doses, for 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. The 7.2 mg strength is a single-dose pre-filled pen. | Pre-filled pen delivering 4 doses. One version of the 1 mg pen delivers 8. |
| UK strengths | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg and 7.2 mg | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg |
| What the UK licence covers | Weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or 27 to under 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity, and in adolescents aged 12 and over with obesity and a body weight above 60 kg. Also licensed to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 kg/m² or more, and for MASH, a form of liver disease. The 7.2 mg dose is for weight management in adults with obesity. | Adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. The MHRA lists it as not licensed for weight loss or weight management. |
| NICE and the NHS | NICE TA875: weight management within a specialist weight management service, for a maximum of 2 years. NICE TA1152: reducing cardiovascular risk. NICE is appraising the 7.2 mg dose. | Type 2 diabetes care under NICE guideline NG28, which names Ozempic, up to 1 mg once a week, for adults with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. |
| In the pack | FlexTouch: 1 pen and 4 NovoFine Plus needles. 7.2 mg: 4 single-dose pens, each with its needle attached. | 1 pen and 4 NovoFine Plus needles. Some strengths also come as 3 pens and 12 needles, and the 8 dose 1 mg pen comes with 8 needles. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. |
One substance, two products
Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide and both are made by Novo Nordisk. Their SmPCs describe the substance in the same words, as a GLP-1 analogue that "acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist", and each is injected under the skin once a week in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
They are separate products with separate marketing authorisations, pens, strengths and leaflets. The NHS medicines guide says semaglutide "is a medicine used to treat obesity (called Wegovy) or manage type 2 diabetes (called Ozempic and Rybelsus)".
Different UK licences
The Ozempic SmPC says it "is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise", either on its own when metformin is considered inappropriate or added to other diabetes medicines.
Wegovy is licensed for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or of 27 to under 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity, and in adolescents aged 12 and over with obesity and a body weight above 60 kg. Its licence also covers reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 kg/m² or more, and treating MASH, a form of liver disease, with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis.
The MHRA guide to GLP-1 medicines sets the licences out in a table: Wegovy is licensed for weight management and not for diabetes, and Ozempic is licensed for diabetes and not for weight loss or weight management. The MHRA adds that it "has not assessed the safety and effectiveness of these medicines when used outside of their licensed use".
Strengths and pens
Ozempic is made in four strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg. Wegovy FlexTouch pens come in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg, and Wegovy also has a 7.2 mg single-dose pen for weight management in adults with obesity.
Most pens of both medicines deliver four weekly doses, and one version of the Ozempic 1 mg pen delivers 8. Some of the numbers appear in both ranges, yet each pen belongs to its own product and licence. The prescriber decides which medicine and which strength to prescribe.
What is in the pack
The Wegovy SmPC lists each FlexTouch pack as "1 multiple dose pre-filled pen and 4 disposable NovoFine Plus needles". The Ozempic SmPC lists 1 pen with 4 NovoFine Plus needles, and for some strengths 3 pens with 12 needles; the 8 dose 1 mg pen comes with 8 needles. It adds: "Not all pack sizes may be marketed."
The Wegovy 7.2 mg pen is a single-dose pen with its needle attached, supplied in a pack of 4 pens.
On the NHS
Ozempic's NHS use follows its licence for type 2 diabetes. NICE's guideline on type 2 diabetes in adults (NG28), last updated in February 2026, names subcutaneous semaglutide (Ozempic), up to 1 mg once a week, among the medicines to offer adults with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
For weight management, NICE technology appraisal TA875 recommends semaglutide (Wegovy) within a specialist weight management service, for a maximum of 2 years, in adults who meet its BMI and comorbidity conditions. TA1152, published in May 2026, covers semaglutide for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of at least 27 kg/m².
Semaglutide as a tablet
Semaglutide is also made as tablets taken once a day. The NHS lists Rybelsus as a semaglutide brand for type 2 diabetes, and the MHRA approved Wegovy tablets for weight management in adults on 11 June 2026.
Where to see prices
Prices sit on the Dose Club price tables, never on comparison pages. Pick a medicine's table or a single dose.
Questions and answers
Is Ozempic the same as Wegovy?
They contain the same active substance, semaglutide, and both are made by Novo Nordisk. They are separate products with separate UK licences: Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes in adults, and Wegovy for weight management, with further uses in cardiovascular risk reduction and MASH.
Is Ozempic licensed for weight loss in the UK?
No. The MHRA guide to GLP-1 medicines lists Ozempic as licensed to treat diabetes and not licensed for weight loss or weight management. The Ozempic SmPC covers adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise.
Do Wegovy and Ozempic come in the same strengths?
Some of the numbers overlap. Ozempic comes in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg. Wegovy comes in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg and 7.2 mg. Each pen is made for its own product, and the prescriber decides which medicine and strength to prescribe.
Are Wegovy and Ozempic both weekly injections?
Yes. Both SmPCs say the medicine is injected under the skin once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals, in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
Does The Dose Club list Ozempic prices?
No. The Dose Club lists no prices for Ozempic. The Wegovy price table shows the complete monthly cost at GPhC registered UK pharmacies for every Wegovy dose.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages on .
- Wegovy FlexTouch pens, summary of product characteristics (emc)
- Wegovy 7.2 mg single-dose pen, summary of product characteristics (emc)
- Ozempic 0.25 mg pre-filled pen, summary of product characteristics (emc)
- Ozempic 2 mg pre-filled pen, summary of product characteristics (emc)
- MHRA, GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know
- NICE, Type 2 diabetes in adults: management (NG28)
- NICE, Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875)
- NICE, Semaglutide for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity (TA1152)
- MHRA, First GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UK (11 June 2026)
- NHS, Semaglutide