Quick answer
The Wegovy tablet (oral semaglutide) is MHRA-approved and available now from £64/month; retatrutide (Eli Lilly's triple-G weekly injection) is not yet UK-approved. Retatrutide showed higher trial weight loss than the Wegovy tablet, but only the tablet is currently accessible. Speak to your prescriber about which option suits you.
Retatrutide vs Wegovy tablet: how the triple-G drug compares to oral semaglutide
Retatrutide and the Wegovy tablet are both weight management drugs from major pharmaceutical companies, but they are fundamentally different products aimed at different patients and situations. This page compares them across the factors that matter most to someone deciding between them — or wondering whether to wait for retatrutide before starting the Wegovy tablet.
Key upfront fact: Only one of these is currently available in the UK. The Wegovy tablet is approved and available on pre-order from UK providers from £64/month. Retatrutide is not MHRA-approved and has no confirmed UK launch date as of June 2026.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Wegovy tablet | Retatrutide |
|---|---|---|
| Generic name | Oral semaglutide | Retatrutide (LY3437943) |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| Administration | Daily oral tablet | Weekly subcutaneous injection |
| Receptor targets | GLP-1 | GLP-1, GIP, glucagon (triple) |
| UK approval status | MHRA approved — pre-order live | Not yet MHRA-approved |
| UK start price | From £64/month (Juniper) | Not available |
| Phase 2 weight loss | ~15.1% at 68 weeks (OASIS 2) | ~24.2% at 48 weeks |
| Fasting requirement | Yes — 30 min before food | No (injection) |
| Frequency | Once daily | Once weekly |
| Needle-free option | Yes — tablet only | No — injection only |
Efficacy: does retatrutide cause more weight loss?
Phase 2 trial data suggest retatrutide produces higher percentage weight loss than semaglutide (both injection and tablet forms) at comparable timepoints. The OASIS 2 trial for oral semaglutide showed approximately 15% weight loss at 68 weeks. Retatrutide phase 2 results showed up to 24% at 48 weeks at the highest dose.
However, these numbers cannot be directly compared for several reasons:
- Different trial designs, populations and timepoints
- Phase 2 vs phase 3 data (phase 3 results tend to be more conservative)
- Head-to-head trials comparing the two drugs directly have not been published
- Real-world outcomes for individual patients vary significantly from trial averages
The honest answer: retatrutide’s phase 2 results were impressive, but we do not yet have the head-to-head or real-world UK data to make a clean “X% more effective” statement.
Convenience: tablet vs injection
This is the clearest practical difference. The Wegovy tablet is taken orally once daily. Retatrutide requires a weekly subcutaneous injection. For patients who are needle-averse or who want to avoid the commitment of weekly injections, the Wegovy tablet is a significant practical advantage — regardless of any efficacy difference.
The Wegovy tablet does have its own requirements: it must be taken on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before food, with no more than 120ml of water. Some patients find this timing discipline challenging. Retatrutide, as an injection, does not have these food-timing constraints.
Should I wait for retatrutide or start the Wegovy tablet now?
This is the most common question we receive about these two drugs. The honest answer depends on your situation:
Start the Wegovy tablet now if:
- You want to begin treatment without delay
- You prefer not to inject
- You are comfortable with the daily tablet fasting routine
- You want a currently-approved, clinically-supervised treatment
You might consider waiting if:
- You are not in a rush to start
- You are comfortable with injections and have used them before
- You specifically want the highest possible efficacy from your first treatment
- You understand that the wait could be one to two years or more
There is also a pragmatic point: starting the Wegovy tablet now does not prevent you from switching to retatrutide when and if it becomes available. Weight management treatment is not a one-time decision — it is an ongoing clinical relationship that can be adjusted as new options become available.
Available now: Wegovy tablet providers
If you are ready to start, our live provider tracker compares all active UK Wegovy tablet providers. Prices start from £64/month and five providers currently have pre-order listings.
Compare all Wegovy tablet prices now →
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Is retatrutide more effective than the Wegovy tablet?
Trial data suggest higher weight loss for retatrutide, but no head-to-head trial exists and only the Wegovy tablet is UK-approved. Trial averages do not predict any individual's result.
Should I wait for retatrutide or start the Wegovy tablet now?
That is a decision for your prescriber. The Wegovy tablet is approved and available now from £64/month; retatrutide may be a year or more away, and starting now does not prevent switching later.
Is retatrutide a tablet like the Wegovy pill?
No. Retatrutide is a weekly injection; the Wegovy tablet is an oral medicine taken 30 minutes before food. Both are prescription-only.
Can I buy retatrutide in the UK?
Not from any GPhC-registered provider. Grey-market 'research peptide' sources are unregulated and unsafe. The Wegovy tablet is the approved oral option available now.