Dr Adam Staten, 43, a medical director at the private diagnostics clinic hub One Day Tests, said he expected the launch of GLP-1 tablets to “change the landscape of weight management” and spark a major shift from injections to pills.
However, he said that just six per cent of his patients using GLP-1 jabs have switched to tablets, and very few have accessed them for the first time.
Dr Staten, who works with GLP-1 patients at the clinic, said: “Everyone thought the tablets would change the whole landscape of weight management, but so far, it hasn’t had a big impact.
“People are familiar with the injections now.
“Although the idea of injecting is a big step for some people, it’s convenient, relatively painless, and once a week.
“Tablets have drawbacks in terms of taking them – you have to have it on an empty stomach first thing and you can’t have anything else to drink or eat for half an hour after, so it’s a bit awkward to take.
“And I had assumed the pill would be cheaper because the injections come with the manufacturing costs with the pens and needles, but the price is almost exactly the same.”
The pills were approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in June and became available in pharmacies and supermarkets in July.
He said: “Overall, I’ve been surprised how willing people are to inject.
“It feels quite invasive compared to taking a pill, which everyone has done at some point in their lives.
“On the tablets, something seems to be putting people off.
“We had a lot of discussions with people about going on them, but most of those people then offered to go on, or stay on, injections.
“We’ve not been overwhelmed by people wanting the tablets, and I can see why they aren’t flying off the shelves.
“In six months’ time it might be different, but given how much hype there was around the tablets, it’s been a bit of a damp squib.”