A new daily weight-loss pill from Eli Lilly has been approved for use in the United Kingdom, making Britain the first European country to authorize the treatment.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced on August 10 that it had authorized Foundayo, the brand name for orforglipron, for weight management and the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The decision adds a new oral option to the rapidly expanding market for GLP-1-based obesity medicines.
Foundayo is designed to be taken once a day and works by activating GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite and blood-sugar regulation. Unlike some existing weight-loss pills, it can be taken at any time of day and with or without food, potentially making it more convenient for patients.
The approval does not mean the medicine will immediately be available through the UK’s National Health Service. Foundayo is expected to launch through private prescriptions later this month, while its potential NHS use will be subject to further assessment.
The new medicine is expected to compete with established injectable treatments such as Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. The approval also marks an important step in the industry’s shift toward oral alternatives to injectable obesity drugs.
Clinical studies have shown that orforglipron can produce significant weight loss when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Foundayo earlier this year for adults with obesity or overweight accompanied by at least one weight-related health condition. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
With the UK becoming the first European market to authorize Foundayo, attention will now turn to its private-market launch, pricing and potential NHS access. The drug is still under regulatory review in the European Union.