ASA bans first weight loss pill ads

By Emily Letton | Published: 7-Oct-2026 Emily Letton
Regulatory Marketing

The UK's advertising watchdog has ruled against several companies advertising oral GLP-1 weight loss medications to the UK public, working with the MHRA to ensure compliance and "protect the public"

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ASA bans first weight loss pill ads

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a number of advertisements for oral GLP-1 weight loss medications, ruling that the promotion of prescription-only medicines directly to the public breaches UK advertising rules. 

Companies such as Simple Online Pharmacy and Pharmacy Online found themselves in the firing line, having advertised oral GLP-1 treatments using social media advertisements as well as on their websites.

The ASA ruled that an Instagram advertisement for Simple Online Pharmacy — inviting people to “join the waitlist” for a new oral weight-management treatment — had promoted oral GLP-1 treatments before the medicine had received marketing authorisation in the UK.

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