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Saxenda vs Wegovy in the UK: what’s the difference?

Two weight-management injections from Novo Nordisk: one daily, one weekly. What each is licensed for, what the head-to-head trial found, side effects, list prices and the NHS route.

GLP Guidebook teamPublished 14 Oct 20266 min read17 sourcesWritten from published sources
What we checked17 sources, each one opened and linked to the sentence it supportsLast checked 14 Oct 2026 · Next review due 14 Apr 2027 · How we write

Written for the UK.

The short answer

Saxenda (liraglutide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are different medicines from Novo Nordisk, both licensed in the UK for weight management. Saxenda is injected daily up to 3.0 mg; Wegovy weekly at 2.4 mg, or 7.2 mg if needed. In STEP 8, the head-to-head trial, weight fell 6.4% on Saxenda and 15.8% on Wegovy over 68 weeks.

Key takeaways

  • Saxenda contains liraglutide and Wegovy contains semaglutide: both copy the gut hormone GLP-1, but liraglutide lasts about 13 hours in the body and semaglutide about a week.3,2
  • In STEP 8, a 68-week open-label trial paid for by Novo Nordisk, weight fell 6.4% on Saxenda 3.0 mg and 15.8% on Wegovy 2.4 mg.1
  • Stomach and gut side effects were reported by about 83 in 100 people on Saxenda and 84 in 100 on Wegovy in STEP 8.1
  • Saxenda’s UK label says to stop after 12 weeks on 3.0 mg if at least 5% of starting weight hasn’t been lost.3
  • On the NHS, NICE limits both to specialist weight management services, and Saxenda to a narrower group with prediabetes and high heart risk.5,6
Before you go further
  • GLP‑1 medicines are prescription-only medicines in the UK, never sold over the counter.17
  • A prescriber decides whether a medicine fits, which one and at what dose. Nothing here is a recommendation.
  • Prices below are official NHS list prices. We don’t quote, rank or link to any seller.
  • The risks are the same however you get it: see our side effects guide.
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Are Saxenda and Wegovy the same medicine?
  3. What did the head-to-head trial find?
  4. How do the side effects compare?
  5. How do the doses and stopping rules differ?
  6. What does each cost, and what does the NHS cover?
  7. Which one? What does a prescriber weigh?
  8. Questions people ask
  9. How we researched this
  10. Sources

At a glance

FeatureSaxendaWegovy
Medicine and makerLiraglutide, Novo Nordisk3Semaglutide, Novo Nordisk2
Licensed for in the UKWeight management in adults with a BMI of 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition; teens 12+ with obesity and over 60 kg3The same weight rules for adults and teens; also cutting heart-attack and stroke risk in heart disease, and a form of fatty liver disease (MASH)2
How it’s takenInjection under the skin once a day, from a pen of 18 mg3Injection under the skin once a week, from a pen of 4 doses, or a single-dose 7.2 mg pen2,9
Dose steps0.6 mg a day, rising by 0.6 mg each week to 3.0 mg from week 530.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.7 mg for 4 weeks each, then 2.4 mg; 7.2 mg if needed for obesity2
Weight change in the head-to-head trial−6.4% over 68 weeks in STEP 8 (3.0 mg). Gut side effects: 83 in 1001−15.8% over 68 weeks in STEP 8 (2.4 mg). Gut side effects: 84 in 1001
Most common side effects (UK label)Very common (more than 1 in 10): feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, headache3Very common: feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, headache, tiredness2
NHS list price£196.20 for 5 pens; at 3.0 mg a day 5 pens last 30 days5,9£73.25 to £175.80 per 4-week pen up to 2.4 mg; £330 for 4 pens of 7.2 mg8,9
Per month and per year at the full doseAbout £198 a month and £2,381 a year at 3.0 mgAbout £190 a month and £2,285 a year at 2.4 mg; about £358 and £4,290 at 7.2 mg
NHS coverageEngland: specialist services only, for a BMI of 35+ with prediabetes and high heart risk5England: specialist services for up to 2 years; also adults with heart disease and a BMI of 27+6,7

Side by side, not ranked. STEP 8 compared the two directly in adults without diabetes; it was open-label and Novo Nordisk, which makes both, paid for it.1 Prices exclude VAT. Month and year figures are our arithmetic on a 52-week year, the same rule as our cost calculator. The NHS pays confidential discounted prices.5,6

Are Saxenda and Wegovy the same medicine?

No: Saxenda contains liraglutide and Wegovy contains semaglutide, two GLP-1 medicines from the same maker, Novo Nordisk.2,3

The medicine is what works in your body; the brand is the name on the box. Both medicines copy GLP‑1, a gut hormone that helps control appetite and food intake.3

The big practical difference is how long each lasts. Liraglutide has a half-life of about 13 hours, so it is injected every day.3 Semaglutide’s is about a week, which suits a weekly injection.2

Liraglutide is also sold under generic brand names; see Generic liraglutide vs Saxenda.

What did the head-to-head trial find?

In STEP 8, average weight fell 6.4% on Saxenda 3.0 mg and 15.8% on Wegovy 2.4 mg over 68 weeks.1

How this trial worked:

  • 338 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, and no diabetes were put into groups at random.1
  • They got weekly Wegovy, daily Saxenda, or a matching dummy injection (placebo), plus diet and activity advice.1
  • Wegovy against Saxenda was open-label: people knew which one they had. Novo Nordisk paid for it.1

For a 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) person, 6.4% is about 6 kg and 15.8% about 16 kg. These are averages; some lost far more, some very little. On the dummy injections, weight fell 1.9%.1

Put another way, 26 in 100 on Saxenda lost at least 10%, against 71 in 100 on Wegovy.1 More people stopped treatment on Saxenda: 28 in 100, against 14 in 100 on Wegovy.1

How do the side effects compare?

They are the same kind, mostly feeling sick, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation, and in STEP 8 about as many people reported them on each.1,2,3

Stomach and gut side effects were reported by 82.7% on Saxenda and 84.1% on Wegovy in STEP 8.1 On both labels they usually come in the first weeks or while the dose rises.2,3

One practical difference comes from the MHRA. It says to stop semaglutide at least 2 months before trying for a baby. Liraglutide leaves the body faster, so it can be stopped just before.4

RisksThe risks, in brief
  • Stomach effects. Feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are very common (more than 1 in 10) on both UK labels.2,3
  • Gallstones are common (1 in 10 to 1 in 100) on both UK labels.2,3
  • Pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas) is uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000) on both. The MHRA’s warning sign is severe, persistent stomach pain that may spread to the back.2,3,14
  • Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can harm the kidneys, both labels warn.2,3
  • Pregnancy. Stop semaglutide at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy; liraglutide just before.4
Full detail in our side effects guide →
Get help now: call 999 or go to A&E for severe stomach pain that won’t go away, with or without vomiting. It can be pancreatitis.14 Not sure? Use NHS 111.15 Northern Ireland has no 111: use your GP’s out-of-hours service.16
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How do the doses and stopping rules differ?

Saxenda climbs weekly to a daily 3.0 mg; Wegovy climbs every 4 weeks to a weekly 2.4 mg, and each label sets its own check on progress.2,3

Saxenda starts at 0.6 mg a day and rises by 0.6 mg at least a week apart, reaching 3.0 mg.3 Each pen holds 18 mg, so at 3.0 mg a day one pen lasts 6 days, by our arithmetic.3

Wegovy reaches 2.4 mg by week 17, and 7.2 mg is possible later for obesity.2 The labels’ progress checks differ:

  • Saxenda: stop after 12 weeks on 3.0 mg if at least 5% of starting weight hasn’t been lost.3
  • Wegovy: if under 5% is lost after 6 months, decide whether to continue.2

More in the NICE 5% rule.

What does each cost, and what does the NHS cover?

Saxenda lists at £196.20 for 5 pens and Wegovy at £73.25 to £175.80 a pen up to 2.4 mg; on the NHS you pay £9.90 an item in England, or nothing elsewhere.5,8,10,11,12,13

Saxenda’s £196.20 for 5 pens is the basic NHS price in July 2026 prescribing data, the same as NICE published in 2020.5,9 At 3.0 mg a day, 5 pens last 30 days.3 Generic liraglutide prescribed by its generic name is £50.49 for 2 pens in the October 2026 Drug Tariff.8

NICE backs NHS Saxenda only in specialist tier 3 services, for people with a BMI of 35 or more, prediabetes and a high risk of heart disease.5 NHS Wegovy for weight is limited to specialist services, for at most 2 years.6

A 2026 NICE decision adds a Wegovy route for adults with heart or artery disease and a BMI of at least 27.7 See Wegovy on the NHS.

Which one? What does a prescriber weigh?

Your prescriber weighs your health and goals, whether a daily or weekly injection suits you, any pregnancy plans and what your NHS area offers.

  • Routine. A daily injection against a weekly one.2,3
  • Pregnancy plans. The gap before trying for a baby is 2 months for semaglutide and none for liraglutide.4
  • Heart disease. Wegovy is licensed to cut heart-attack and stroke risk in people with heart disease.2
  • Switching. The MHRA says to consult a healthcare professional before switching between GLP‑1 medicines.4

Our guide to getting a prescription in the UK lists what to bring to the appointment.

Questions people ask

Is Saxenda the same as Wegovy?

No. Saxenda contains liraglutide, a daily injection; Wegovy contains semaglutide, a weekly one. Both are made by Novo Nordisk and licensed for weight.2,3

Which loses more weight, Saxenda or Wegovy?

In STEP 8, average weight fell 6.4% on Saxenda and 15.8% on Wegovy over 68 weeks. The trial was open-label and paid for by Novo Nordisk.1

Can I switch from Saxenda to Wegovy?

The MHRA says to consult a healthcare professional before switching from one GLP-1 medicine to another.4

When should Saxenda be stopped?

Its UK label says to stop after 12 weeks on 3.0 mg a day if at least 5% of starting weight hasn’t been lost.3

Is Saxenda available on the NHS?

Only in specialist tier 3 services, for people with a BMI of 35 or more, prediabetes and a high risk of heart disease, under NICE guidance.5

How we researched this

On 14 October 2026 we read the UK labels (SmPCs) for Saxenda and Wegovy, the STEP 8 paper, MHRA guidance, NICE TA664, TA875 and TA1152, the October 2026 Drug Tariff and NHSBSA prescribing data.

Trial figures come from STEP 8, the only trial we found that compared the two directly. We don’t rank the medicines.

Before you move on

  • Saxenda is daily; Wegovy is weekly.
  • Compare the head-to-head trial, STEP 8, not separate trials.
  • Know each label’s 5% check.
  • Note the pregnancy gap: 2 months for semaglutide, none for liraglutide.
  • Ask before switching between them.
Doctor questionsConsidering it for my weightSide effects and risks

More from the UK blog

UKUnited KingdomGeneric liraglutide vs Saxenda: is there a difference?UKUnited KingdomCan you get Wegovy on the NHS? Specialist services, the 2-year limit and the heart routeUKUnited KingdomWhat is the NICE 5% rule, and when does the NHS stop a weight-loss jab?
About GLP Guidebook

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An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don’t sell medicines, take drug-company money, earn commissions or link to any provider. Once a month: NHS changes, approvals, list prices and safety alerts. How we write

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Sources

  1. Rubino DM et al. Effect of weekly subcutaneous semaglutide vs daily liraglutide on body weight in adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes: the STEP 8 randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2022;327:138–150. Open-label, 68 weeks, 338 people. Sponsored by Novo Nordisk. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23619. PMID 35015037. PubMed
  2. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy FlexTouch: UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC), electronic Medicines Compendium. Date of revision 09/2026. Sections 4.1, 4.2 (Table 2), 4.8 (Table 3), 5.1 (STEP 1; STEP 8, Table 9) and 5.2. UK label. medicines.org.uk (emc)
  3. Novo Nordisk. Saxenda 6 mg/ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen: UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC), electronic Medicines Compendium. Date of revision 11/2025. Sections 4.1, 4.2 (Table 2), 4.8 (Table 3), 5.1 (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, Table 4), 5.2 and 6.5. UK label. medicines.org.uk (emc)
  4. MHRA. GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know. Guidance, updated 5 February 2026. gov.uk
  5. NICE. Liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity, technology appraisal TA664, recommendation 1.1 and section 2.3 (list price of Saxenda £196.20 for 5 × 18 mg pens, excluding VAT). December 2020. nice.org.uk
  6. NICE. Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity, technology appraisal TA875, recommendation 1.1. Published 8 March 2023. nice.org.uk
  7. NICE. Semaglutide for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity, technology appraisal TA1152, recommendation 1.1. Published 7 May 2026. nice.org.uk
  8. NHS Business Services Authority. Drug Tariff, Part VIIIA, October 2026 (basic prices excluding VAT): semaglutide pens £73.25 (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg), £124.53 (1.7 mg), £175.80 (2.4 mg); liraglutide 6 mg/ml 3 ml pens £50.49 for 2. nhsbsa.nhs.uk
  9. NHS Business Services Authority. English Prescribing Dataset (EPD), July 2026: basic NHS price of Saxenda 6 mg/ml 3 ml pens (£196.20 for 5) and Wegovy 7.2 mg single-dose pens (£330.00 for 4), excluding VAT. opendata.nhsbsa.net
  10. NHS Business Services Authority. NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC): “The prescription charge in England is £9.90.” nhsbsa.nhs.uk
  11. Citizens Advice Scotland. Help with health costs: “Prescriptions in Scotland are free.” citizensadvice.org.uk
  12. Welsh Government. Free prescriptions. gov.wales
  13. nidirect (Northern Ireland). Help with health costs: “All prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free of charge for everyone.” nidirect.gov.uk
  14. MHRA. MHRA updates guidance for GLP-1 prescribers and patients (acute pancreatitis). Press release, 29 January 2026. gov.uk
  15. NHS. When to call 999, and NHS 111 if you’re not sure. nhs.uk
  16. nidirect (Northern Ireland). GP out of hours service. nidirect.gov.uk
  17. MHRA. First GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UK. Press release, 11 June 2026 (“As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication”). gov.uk

Last checked 14 Oct 2026 · Next review due 14 Apr 2027 · Report an error

How this page was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It’s general information, not medical advice. Talk to your GP, pharmacist or prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. We don’t sell, prescribe or recommend any brand or provider. How we write