The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised orforglipron (Foundayo), making the UK the first country in Europe to approve this GLP-1 tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes. The pill will be available in UK pharmacies from Monday.
New oral treatment option for eligible patients
“The UK is the first country in Europe where Foundayo is now available,” said Khalil Asmar, the vice-president of cardiometabolic health at Lilly Northern Europe, in a statement. “We’re pleased that this means there is another oral treatment option for eligible UK patients alongside licensed injectable treatments.”
Henry Gregg, the chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “This is another significant day with a second weight loss pill available from today in certain pharmacies. This is particularly significant for patients who cannot or do not want to take an injectable medicine and could make weight-loss treatment available to a wider range of patients.”
Expanding access to weight-loss treatments
Gregg said: “There must now be a redoubling of efforts within government and the NHS to use pharmacies to make sure more eligible patients in clinical need can get weight loss treatments on the NHS, rather than the current postcode lottery that exists for weight management services via GPs.”
The MHRA approved the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss, a tablet form of Wegovy, in June. Julian Beach, MHRA Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said: “Following rigorous assessment of orforglipron’s safety, quality, and effectiveness, we are pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Regulatory oversight and NHS decisions
“As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication, and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.”
As with all new treatments, decisions on NHS use will follow established processes.
