Boots plans to sell a weight-loss jab that has been used by celebrities including Hollywood actors and billionaire Twitter owner Elon Musk in its UK stores from the spring.

The pharmacy chain is reportedly planning to sell the prescription drug Wegovy, or semaglutide, which suppresses appetite. Variety magazine described the drug as the “worst kept secret in Hollywood” while professor Rachel Batterham, from University College London’s centre for obesity research, said it was “a game changer” following a study in 2021 by UCL researchers which found it reduced body weight by up to 20 per cent.

Boots told Sky News the drug can help patients “achieve sustained weight loss when used alongside a reduced calorie diet, increased physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices.”

Patients will only be able to access the drug, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, after completing an online consultation on its Online Doctor platform and an assessment by a pharmacist. It is available for people who have a body mass index of 30 or over or 27 or over for individuals who have a weight-related health condition.

Boots also said it will “soon introduce a free, 10-week weight loss programme for patients to complete alongside their treatment.”

Independent Community Pharmacist has contacted Boots for further comment.