The UK has approved Foundayo, a once-daily oral GLP-1 medicine from Eli Lilly, making it the first country in Europe to authorise the treatment for obesity-related weight loss and type 2 diabetes, with availability through private prescription later this month.
The UK has approved a new once-daily weight-loss tablet from Eli Lilly, the company behind the Mounjaro injection, in a move that makes Britain the first country in Europe to authorise the treatment for both obesity-related weight loss and type 2 diabetes. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the pill, sold as Foundayo, is approved for private use but is not yet available on the NHS.
The arrival of the tablet adds to a fast-growing market for GLP-1 medicines, which work by imitating a hormone that helps regulate appetite, digestion and blood sugar. The Independent reported that an estimated 8.25 million people in the UK have taken, are taking or are considering taking these drugs, according to a survey by The Food Foundation.
Eli Lilly said Foundayo will be launched in the UK later this month through private prescription. The company has not disclosed a full price list, but a spokesperson said it would be cheaper than Mounjaro, which is listed at £330 for a month’s supply. The new pill is the second oral GLP-1 medicine approved for use in the UK after Novo’s Wegovy pill, which was authorised in June.
A major selling point is convenience. Foundayo is taken once a day and does not come with the food or water restrictions attached to Wegovy, which must be swallowed on an empty stomach with a small amount of water before waiting 30 minutes to eat, drink or take other medicines. Dr Donald Grant, a GP at The Independent Pharmacy, said the drug works in much the same way as injectable GLP-1 medicines and can support weight loss when paired with diet and exercise.
Experts say the benefits may be more modest than with some rival treatments, but still meaningful. Simon Cork, of Anglia Ruskin University, said patients would still see “significant, clinically meaningful changes to their weight”. As with other drugs in the class, side effects can include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fatigue, drowsiness, headaches, hair loss and vision problems, according to NICE guidance and Lilly’s patient information.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
