Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss pill orforglipron – brand named Foundayo – has been authorised today (10 August) by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
This decision makes the UK the first country in Europe to approve this GLP-1 tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes, and follows approval of weight-loss pill Wegovy, in June
Julian Beach, executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, said: ‘Following rigorous assessment of orforglipron’s safety, quality, and effectiveness, we are pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes.’
‘As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication, and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.’
Orforglipron – alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity – is authorised for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults in the UK with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of between 27 and 30, and at least one weight-related comorbidity
It is also authorised to improve glycaemic control for patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes
Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss tablet is taken once daily and can be taken at any time of day with no food or water restrictions
Treatment begins at 0.8 mg, escalating through 2.5mg, 5.5mg, 9mg, 14.5mg, and 17.2mg, with a minimum of one month at each dose level
Khalil Asmar, vice president of the cardiometabolic health division at Lilly UK and Northern Europe, said: ‘Obesity and type 2 diabetes both need a comprehensive and systematic approach to treatment
‘We are pleased that orforglipron can provide an additional management option for healthcare professionals to consider for eligible patients living with obesity, overweight or type 2 diabetes.’
Orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which works by mimicking the action of a naturally occurring GLP-1 gut hormone that is released by the body after eating
The pill acts on areas of the brain that regulate appetite, which helps people feel fuller for longer – reducing hunger and decreasing food cravings
As a result, it can help people eat less and support weight reduction alongside appropriate diet and lifestyle measures
In people with type 2 diabetes, orforglipron also reduces the levels of sugar in the body when the levels of sugar are high
The most common side effects for those taking orforglipron are nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia – otherwise known as indigestion
While this tablet is approved for use in the UK, it is not currently availablell follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
NICE’s decision on orforglipron for managing overweight and obesity is due on 18 November 2026. The appraisal will consider its clinical and cost effectiveness within the terms of its marketing authorisation
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association said: ‘This is another significant day with a second weight loss pill to be available from some pharmacies in the near future
‘However, there must now be a redoubling of efforts within government and the NHS to use pharmacies to make sure more eligible patients in clinical need can get this on the NHS, rather than the current postcode lottery that exists for weight management services
‘We are concerned that the NHS rollout remains extremely slow and community pharmacy is ready to support a wider rollout, which will help eligible patients access treatment safely and help mitigate the impact of obesity on the NHS.’
The MHRA emphasise that all GLP-1 medicines are prescription only medicines, which means they can only be obtained from a registered pharmacy, with a prescription from a doctor. Buying GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers carries serious health risks
The news of Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss pill receiving approval comes as Novo Nordisk launches higher-doses of its Wegovy weight-loss pill in the UK market
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told The Pharmacist: ‘We can confirm that the two higher doses of Wegovy pill (semaglutide tables), 9mg and 25mg, are now available to prescribe in the UK
The MHRA approved the Wegovy tablet as the UK’s first weight loss pill on 11 June. The starting dose for the semaglutide tablet is 1.5 mg once daily, increasing to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level
All MHRA-approved doses of the semaglutide tablet were not made immediately available to providers in June. However, with the two higher doses of the Wegovy pill now on offer, ‘appropriate [upward] titration for eligible patients’ is possible, said the Novo Nordisk spokesperson
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