A daily weight-loss pill developed by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind Mounjaro, has been approved for use in the UK, making Britain the first country in Europe to authorise the treatment.
The tablet, called Foundayo, is designed for people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes. It can now be prescribed and purchased privately in the UK, although approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency does not mean the treatment will automatically be available through the NHS.
Foundayo Uses GLP-1 Medication
Foundayo is a form of GLP-1 medicine that works partly by reducing appetite. Its active ingredient, orforglipron, is taken once a day.
The approval follows the UK’s authorisation in June of a tablet version of Wegovy, another medicine used for weight management.
Eli Lilly said Foundayo could immediately be used within the NHS for treating type 2 diabetes. The company also plans to apply to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England for the medicine to be recommended specifically as a weight-loss treatment.
Experts Highlight Benefits of Daily Pill
Dr Simon Cork of Anglia Ruskin University said the weight-loss results associated with Foundayo may not be as large as those achieved with some other treatments. However, he said patients could still experience significant and clinically meaningful reductions in weight.
He also highlighted potential cost benefits, suggesting the tablet could be cheaper than some existing weight-loss medicines, which have often been subject to restrictions on NHS availability.
Prof Naveed Sattar, an expert at the University of Glasgow, described the approval as positive news.
He pointed to convenience as another potential advantage, noting that Foundayo can be taken at any time of day. This differs from the Wegovy tablet, which must be taken on an empty stomach.
He said having another effective oral treatment could help more people find a weight-management option suited to their individual needs and preferences.
Pill Could Help Prevent Weight Regain
Researchers are also investigating whether daily orforglipron could help people who stop taking weight-loss injections maintain the weight they have already lost.
Clinical trials found that people who had previously used weight-loss injections and were subsequently given the daily tablet for a year avoided regaining much of the weight they had lost.
Weight regain can occur after people discontinue GLP-1 injections, making longer-term weight management an important consideration for patients and doctors.
Alongside medication, people taking weight-loss treatments are advised to maintain a balanced diet and get regular physical activity.
Foundayo Side Effects
Like other medicines, Foundayo can cause side effects. Reported effects include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
The UK approval means patients can now access Foundayo privately with a prescription, while its potential availability through the NHS for weight management will depend on further assessment and recommendations from NICE.
