A new once-daily tablet for managing type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss is now available at pharmacies across the UK. The medication, orforglipron, is sold under the brand name Foundayo and offers a tablet-based alternative for patients who prefer not to use weight-loss injections.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved orforglipron earlier this month, making the UK the first country in Europe to authorise the oral treatment. Like all GLP-1 medications, the pill is available only by prescription from a registered pharmacy and is not currently available through the NHS.
UK first in Europe to approve oral GLP-1 treatment
Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind the drug, is consulting with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to assess the tablet for NHS rollout in England. The approval follows the MHRA's earlier authorisation of a tablet version of Wegovy in June, which was the UK's first licensed GLP-1 weight loss pill.
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. 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.”
Who can take the new tablet?
The treatment is licensed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, as well as those with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have a weight-related health condition. The tablet can also be prescribed to regulate blood sugar levels in patients managing poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Patients take the medication once daily at any time, with no specific restrictions on food or drink intake, reports Steven Smith for WalesOnline.
As with any medication, orforglipron carries potential side effects. The most common are nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, dyspepsia (indigestion), and abdominal pain. The MHRA encourages anyone who suspects they are having a side effect to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Pharmacies welcome launch but warn of counterfeit risks
Pharmacy representatives welcomed the launch while urging caution regarding unverified suppliers. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “This is another significant day with a second weight loss pill available 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.”
Gregg also warned that oral treatments can be targeted by counterfeiters online and pressed for wider NHS access. “It is easier for criminals to provide fake, unlicensed or counterfeit versions of oral medications than injectables, and patients must make sure they only access weight loss treatments through safe and regulated pharmacies,” he added.
The decision marks a notable expansion in the range of GLP-1 treatments available in the UK, offering a new option for patients who meet the criteria and who prefer a tablet over injections.
