Germany’s surge in GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs and pending oral semaglutide approval

Injectable GLP‑1 medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have become increasingly popular in Germany for treating obesity. A pharmacology expert explained that the drugs differ in active ingredients and dosing, and warned that not all injectables act with the same potency. The rise in demand has led to a growing market for counterfeit prescriptions, which German police say are being obtained illegally.

At the same time, an oral form of the GLP‑1 drug semaglutide is nearing approval in the European Union. The European Medicines Agency gave a positive opinion in May 2026, and the European Commission must issue a final decision within weeks. If approved, the pill could be sold in German pharmacies later this year. The oral formulation uses higher doses to compensate for limited gut absorption compared to the weekly injection. Other oral GLP‑1 candidates, such as Eli Lilly’s Orforglipron, are also in European review.