Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) has launched its once-daily weight-management and diabetes pill Foundayo in UK pharmacies, offering patients an oral alternative to injectable GLP-1 treatments.
Foundayo, also known as orforglipron, is available from Monday through private prescription after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the treatment earlier this month.
The UK is the first European country to authorise the tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
It can be prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to adults with a body mass index of at least 30, or between 27 and 30 where they have at least one weight-related health condition.
The medicine is also authorised to improve blood sugar control in adults whose type 2 diabetes is not adequately controlled.
Unlike some existing oral GLP-1 medicines, Foundayo can be taken at any time of day without restrictions on food or water. Patients begin with a 0.8-milligram dose, which is increased gradually across several dosage levels.
Orforglipron works by mimicking the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone, helping patients feel fuller for longer while reducing hunger and food cravings.
The most commonly reported side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain, according to the regulator.
Foundayo is not currently available through the NHS. Its potential use within the health service will be considered through the established assessment process involving the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
The launch strengthens Lilly’s position in the rapidly expanding obesity-treatment market, where it already sells injectable therapies Mounjaro and Zepbound.
