The UK has become the first country in Europe to approve a new pill to help with weight loss and treat diabetes
Orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, has been authorised for use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
The medication is intended for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have at least one weight-related health condition
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It can also be used to help control blood sugar in people with poorly managed type 2 diabetes
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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.”
Foundayo is not yet available through the NHS, as it must first be evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice)
The approval comes after the MHRA authorised the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss, an oral form of Wegovy, in June
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Experts have welcomed the decision
Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, said the approval was a “big step forward in the treatment of obesity for a few reasons”
He said: “Firstly, this medication is being authorised for people at lower body weights than other weight loss medications
“Whilst more detail is required to understand the full scope of who will be eligible, a BMI of 30 means this will likely be available to more people
“Additionally, whilst we still await details on cost, this drug is likely to be much cheaper than currently available medications
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“Pill medications are much cheaper to manufacture than injectable medications, and the nature of the active compound in this medication is much cheaper to make than those found in injectable medications or in oral Wegovy.”
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Professor Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine and honorary consultant at the University of Glasgow, said: “This is good news for people living with obesity
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“Having another oral treatment option expands choice, particularly for individuals who are reluctant to use injectable medicines or who may not require the degree of weight loss typically achieved with the most effective injections
“One advantage of orforglipron is its convenience
“Unlike oral semaglutide, which must be taken fasting before food, it can be taken at any time of day, making treatment simpler for some people.”
