Approval of First Oral GLP-1 for Weight Loss in UK
Summary by AI BETAClose X
12 June 2026
MedPal AI plc
("MedPal AI") or the "Company")
MHRA Approval of First Oral GLP-1 for Weight Loss in the UK
MedPal AI plc (AIM: MPAL; FRA: Z1N), the AI-native digital health and pharmacy group, is pleased to provide an update on the commercial development of its private weight management clinic, New Health, operating at new.co.uk.
MedPal AI notes the announcement by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granting UK marketing authorisation for the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet (oral semaglutide) for weight loss and weight management. In the Board's view, this approval has come sooner than the market had anticipated.
The approval, granted to Novo Nordisk, makes the tablet available on a prescription-only basis to adults who are obese (BMI of 30 or above) or overweight (BMI of 27 to 30). The tablet is not currently available on the NHS and remains subject to evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), meaning private provision is presently the only route to access.
Strong early demand in the United States
The Board considers the US launch of the same oral semaglutide product, which began in January 2026, to be an instructive leading indicator of likely UK demand. According to Novo Nordisk's announcement of 7 June 2026, US prescriptions for the tablet surpassed three million in just over five months - equivalent to approximately one prescription filled every five seconds - making it one of the strongest US pharmaceutical launches by volume on record. Materially, Novo Nordisk reported that more than 80% of new pill prescriptions were for patients new to GLP-1 therapy, indicating that the oral formulation is expanding the treatable population rather than displacing existing injectable users.
Relevance to MedPal and New Health
The Board believes this development is directly relevant to the Group's private GLP-1 weight management clinic, New Health (new.co.uk). An orally administered option broadens the addressable market by reaching patients who are reluctant to self-inject and supports adherence and retention through a more convenient daily format - a dynamic borne out by the US uptake data above. Because UK access is presently limited to the private channel pending NICE review, the Board believes MedPal's vertically integrated model - AI-supported triage, human-in-the-loop clinical prescribing, and robotic dispensing - positions New Health to respond to anticipated patient demand.
The timing of the approval is particularly significant for the Group, coinciding closely with the national launch of New Health. The Company will provide a further update on its commercial plans in due course.
Jason Drummond, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MedPal AI plc, commented:
"This approval has arrived faster than the market expected, and the timing for New Health could hardly be better. The US data is striking - three million prescriptions in five months, with the overwhelming majority going to people who had never used a GLP-1 before. That tells us the oral format is unlocking an entirely new patient population, not simply switching existing ones. New Health was built for exactly this moment: clinician-led, technology-enabled, and ready to make this treatment available safely and at scale as we take our national campaign live."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). The Directors of the Company are responsible for the contents of this announcement
Enquiries:
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MedPal AI plc Jason Drummond, Chief Executive Officer
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Via Square1 Consulting |
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP Louise O'Driscoll/Jo Turner
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+44 (0) 20 7213 0880 |
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+44 (0) 20 3973 3678 |
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Clear Capital Markets Limited Bob Roberts
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+44 (0) 20 3869 6080 |
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Square1 Consulting David Bick |
+44 (0) 20 7929 5599 +44 (0) 7831 381201 |
About MedPal AI
MedPal AI is a UK-based digital health company building the MedPal Health OS - a vertically integrated, closed-loop platform spanning AI wellness, clinical services, and automated pharmacy fulfilment. Its core app aggregates data from over 100 wearable devices and health apps (including Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, and Whoop) into a unified health profile, offering personalised, non-clinical lifestyle guidance through its AI wellness coach and acting as the consumer front door to the Company's clinical and pharmacy services.
Through its wholly owned subsidiary MedPal Limited, the Company operates a 24/7 AI-powered automated pharmacy distribution centre, providing nationwide NHS and private prescription services. The facility leverages BD Rowa VMAX robotic dispensing technology integrated with AI triage to deliver rapid, cost-effective medication fulfilment with same-day and next-day delivery capabilities.
MedPal AI has a partnership agreement with Epassi UK Limited, which will, for a limited time, grant exclusive, zero-cost access to the MedPal AI app across Epassi's network of 11M+ employees at major firms. The Company's LEI is 984500EDP8B0A14CBA61.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company's current expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "believes", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "should", "could", "plans", "targets", "aims" or similar expressions. Such statements are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties and actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by them. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law, the AIM Rules for Companies, the UK Market Abuse Regulation or other applicable regulation.
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