Eli Lilly’s once-daily weight-management tablet Foundayo has been approved for use in the UK, making it the first European country to authorise the medicine.
Foundayo contains orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist developed for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The medicine has been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). However, regulatory approval does not automatically mean it will immediately become available through the NHS.
An alternative to injections
Unlike widely used injectable GLP-1 medicines, including Mounjaro and Wegovy, Foundayo is taken as a daily tablet.
It is a small-molecule, non-peptide treatment that can be taken at any time of day without restrictions around food or water.
This differs from the recently approved Wegovy tablet, which must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, followed by a wait of at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking.
Although Foundayo has been developed by the company behind Mounjaro, it is not a tablet version of that medicine. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, while the active ingredient in Foundayo is orforglipron.
Both medicines act on the GLP-1 receptor, helping to regulate appetite, increase feelings of fullness and improve blood glucose control.
Trial results
In a Phase 3 trial involving adults with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes, participants receiving the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of 11.1% of their body weight after 72 weeks. This compared with 2.1% among those receiving a placebo.
Among participants with type 2 diabetes, those taking the highest dose recorded an average weight reduction of 9.6%, compared with 2.5% in the placebo group.
The treatment was used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
The most commonly reported side effects during clinical trials included nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting and indigestion, broadly reflecting the gastrointestinal effects associated with other GLP-1 medicines.
NHS access still to be decided
The UK approval means Foundayo can be made available on private prescription once Eli Lilly launches the medicine. A confirmed UK launch date and price have not yet been announced.
A separate assessment is required before it can be routinely offered through the NHS.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently assessing the clinical and cost effectiveness of orforglipron for managing obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition. Its guidance is expected to be published on 18 November 2026.
Decisions on NHS availability in Scotland will follow the relevant Scottish Medicines Consortium and NHS Scotland processes. Access in Northern Ireland will depend on local assessment, commissioning and implementation arrangements.
The approval provides another potential option for people who may be unable or reluctant to use injectable weight-management treatments, while increasing the range of oral GLP-1 medicines available in the UK.
Further information is available from Eli Lilly and the NICE appraisal page.