Britain becomes the first European nation to approve Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 treatment Foundayo for weight management and diabetes control, marking a significant change in obesity treatment options across Europe.
Britain has become the first European country to clear Eli Lilly’s oral obesity drug orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, for weight management and blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the once-daily tablet on 10 August, extending access to a class of GLP-1 treatments long associated with injections. According to the company, the pill is intended for adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or above, and for those with a BMI of 27 to 30 if they also have at least one weight-related condition.
Lilly says the main appeal is convenience: the drug does not require an injection and can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions. In the United States, the company said the Food and Drug Administration has also approved Foundayo for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight, adding to a growing pipeline of oral GLP-1 medicines that could widen access beyond weekly injections. The company says orforglipron was originally discovered by Chugai Pharmaceutical and licensed to Lilly in 2018.
The British decision comes only weeks after the European Union approved Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy tablet, which contains semaglutide. The European Commission granted that marketing authorisation on 15 July after a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s medicines committee in May. Unlike orforglipron, Wegovy tablets must be taken on an empty stomach after at least 8 hours of fasting, with a 30-minute wait before eating, drinking or taking other medicines.
The arrival of oral GLP-1 drugs marks a shift in how obesity treatment may be delivered, but doctors say the tablets are not a universal replacement for injections. Choice of therapy still depends on clinical judgement, and convenience does not necessarily mean greater effectiveness for every patient. In Greece, neither oral treatment is yet available. Novo Nordisk has said it expects to begin rolling out Wegovy in more countries in the second half of 2026, though it has not given a date for Greece, while orforglipron is still awaiting European evaluation.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
