Prescription-only medicines and GLP-1 drugs — UK law
Every licensed GLP-1 receptor agonist in the UK is a prescription-only medicine. This page sets out what POM status means in practice for supply, advertising, and access — and where the grey market sits in relation to it.
What POM status actually means
The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 classify medicines into three legal categories: prescription-only (POM), pharmacy (P), and general-sale list (GSL). POM is the most restrictive. The intent is that a prescriber assesses individual suitability before the medicine is supplied to a patient.
Practical consequences of POM status:
- Supply requires a prescription from a UK-recognised prescriber (doctor, dentist, supplementary or independent prescriber).
- Dispensing requires a GPhC-registered pharmacy (or PSNI for Northern Ireland).
- Advertising to the public is prohibited. Educational, generic content about a condition is allowed; an advert naming the product and inviting the public to take it is not.
- Personal import is highly restricted. See the importing peptides page for the limited circumstances.
UK-licensed GLP-1 products
| Active ingredient | Brand | Licensed indication (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Wegovy | Weight management (NICE TA875) |
| Semaglutide | Ozempic | Type 2 diabetes |
| Semaglutide (oral) | Rybelsus | Type 2 diabetes |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro | Type 2 diabetes and weight management (NICE TA1026) |
| Liraglutide | Saxenda | Weight management |
| Liraglutide | Victoza | Type 2 diabetes |
| Dulaglutide | Trulicity | Type 2 diabetes |
| Exenatide | Byetta, Bydureon | Type 2 diabetes |
All are POMs. Availability varies; NHS access is largely restricted to specialist obesity services for the weight-management indications. Private access via a GMC-registered prescriber and GPhC-registered pharmacy is lawful.
Lawful UK access routes
NHS
Wegovy (NICE TA875) and Mounjaro (NICE TA1026) for weight management are available on the NHS only through specialist weight-management services. BMI and comorbidity criteria apply. Roll-out is phased; access is rationed.
Private prescription
A GMC-registered prescriber can lawfully prescribe Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Saxenda on a private prescription where clinically appropriate, with the medicine dispensed by a UK-registered pharmacy. See peptide clinics and UK law for the registration checks.
What's not a lawful route
- Online retailers selling vials labelled “research grade” semaglutide or tirzepatide direct to consumers.
- “Compounded” GLP-1 supply marketed on price without individual clinical assessment — see compounded peptides in the UK.
- Personal import from non-UK pharmacies without a UK prescription — almost always intercepted at the border.
- Buying from anyone other than a GPhC-registered pharmacy on the basis of a real UK prescription.
Why ‘research grade’ semaglutide is still a POM
The classification depends on the substance and its presentation. Semaglutide is a POM. A vial labelled “research grade semaglutide” that is offered to consumers, with dosing guidance and weight-loss claims, is being supplied as a medicine — and the supply is unlawful because it doesn’t pass through a prescriber or registered pharmacy.
The MHRA has flagged this exact pattern in its Drug Safety Updates and has prosecuted online sellers. The wording on the vial does not change the analysis.
Red-flag claims
If you see wording like this on a seller, clinic, or social-media advert, treat it as a warning sign rather than a benefit.
“Get Ozempic / Wegovy online — no consultation needed”
POM supply without a prescription. Direct-to-public POM advertising. Two HMR 2012 breaches in one offer.
“Research-grade semaglutide — for laboratory use only”
Semaglutide is a POM regardless of the disclaimer. Consumer-targeted supply is unlawful.
“Compounded Mounjaro — no waiting list, no consultation”
‘No consultation’ removes the clinical assessment that makes any GLP-1 supply lawful.
“Same active ingredient, half the price”
The implication is that the regulated supply chain is the difference. The regulated supply chain is where the safety lives — that's not a feature to bypass.
“UK pharmacy stock — discreet shipping”
‘Discreet shipping’ is the wording of unregulated supply. A lawful UK pharmacy ships against a prescription with the patient's records.
Sources & further reading
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 — legislation.gov.uk
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 — Part 14 (supply) — legislation.gov.uk
- NICE TA875 — semaglutide for weight management — nice.org.uk
- NICE TA1026 — tirzepatide for weight management — nice.org.uk
- MHRA Drug Safety Update — gov.uk
- GPhC — Online registers — pharmacyregulation.org
Frequently asked questions
- What does POM mean for GLP-1 drugs in the UK?
- Prescription-only medicine. Under Part 14 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a POM can lawfully be supplied only against a prescription from a UK-recognised prescriber, dispensed by a GPhC-registered pharmacy (or PSNI in Northern Ireland). Direct-to-consumer advertising is prohibited under Part 12.
- Which GLP-1 products are POMs?
- All licensed GLP-1 receptor agonists in the UK are POMs: semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). There is no over-the-counter GLP-1.
- Is supplying GLP-1s without a prescription a criminal offence?
- Yes. Unlawful supply of a POM is an offence under HMR 2012 Part 14, with maximum penalties including unlimited fines and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiding, abetting, or facilitating supply (e.g. operating a website that connects buyers to unlawful suppliers) also attracts liability.
- What about ‘research-grade semaglutide’ sold online?
- It's still semaglutide. Labelling it ‘research grade’ or ‘not for human consumption’ does not change its POM status when the surrounding presentation is consumer supply. The MHRA has acted against this pattern.
- Can a UK prescriber legally prescribe a GLP-1 off-label?
- Yes, subject to GMC standards. An off-label prescription requires the prescriber to take personal clinical responsibility, document the clinical reasoning, and ensure the patient is informed. Off-label prescribing is not a workaround for POM supply rules; it requires a prescription from a UK prescriber.