A new weight-loss pill has been approved in the UK, giving eligible adults another treatment option that does not require weekly injections. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised orforglipron, sold under the brand name Foundayo, on Monday, 10 August, making Britain the first country in Europe to approve the daily GLP-1 tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
However, patients should not expect to receive the medicine through the NHS immediately. Although the regulator has approved it for use in Britain, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) must separately assess whether it should be offered through the NHS and under what conditions.
The medicine is made by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind Mounjaro, one of the injectable treatments that has transformed the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Uk newspaper reported that clinical trials found people taking orforglipron lost about 12 per cent of their body weight, raising the prospect of a tablet becoming an alternative for some patients who do not want injections.
Who can use the new weight-loss pill?
The MHRA has authorised orforglipron for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above.
It can also be prescribed to adults with a BMI between 27 and 30 where they have at least one health condition linked to their weight.
The medicine has separately been approved to help control blood sugar in people whose type 2 diabetes is not being adequately controlled.
BMI is a calculation based on a person’s height and weight that is commonly used by health professionals when assessing whether someone is underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or living with obesity.
The approval comes as demand for obesity treatments continues to grow. New Daily Prime previously reported that millions of people could become eligible as the NHS expands access to weight-loss treatments, including Mounjaro and Wegovy.
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How the tablet works
Orforglipron belongs to a group of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These drugs mimic a hormone naturally released by the body after eating. They act on parts of the brain involved in appetite, helping people feel full for longer while reducing hunger and food cravings.
Unlike injectable GLP-1 treatments, orforglipron is swallowed once a day. The MHRA says it can be taken at any time without restrictions relating to food or water.
Treatment starts at a low dose before gradually increasing. Patients remain at each dose level for at least one month as the medicine is stepped up towards the appropriate maintenance dose.
Orforglipron is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity rather than as a replacement for lifestyle measures.
Research has also suggested that oral treatment could play a role in helping some patients maintain weight loss after using injectable GLP-1 medicines. A large trial reported earlier this year found that patients switching from injections to orforglipron maintained much of the weight they had lost.
Side effects and prescription rules
Like other medicines in the GLP-1 group, orforglipron can cause side effects.
The MHRA lists nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain among the most commonly reported problems.
Julian Beach, the MHRA’s executive director of healthcare quality and access, said the approval followed a rigorous assessment of the medicine’s “safety, quality, and effectiveness”.
He stressed that orforglipron remains a prescription-only medicine and said the regulator would continue monitoring its safety and effectiveness.
Patients therefore cannot legally treat the approval as permission to buy the drug from any online seller.
The MHRA says GLP-1 medicines should be obtained from a registered pharmacy with a prescription from a healthcare professional. It warns that buying such medicines from unregulated sellers can carry serious health risks.
Concerns about the rapidly growing weight-loss market have already prompted tighter regulatory attention internationally. New Daily Prime previously reported on regulatory action involving compounded weight-loss drugs.
For UK patients, the immediate significance of Monday’s decision is greater choice rather than instant NHS access. Anyone interested in the treatment should speak to a qualified healthcare professional rather than attempting to obtain it independently.
Whether Foundayo becomes widely available through the NHS will depend on the outcome of the NICE assessment and subsequent NHS commissioning decisions.
