UK Approves Foundayo Oral GLP-1 Pill; NHS Decision Pending

Britain became the first European country to approve Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 pill, orforglipron sold as Foundayo, for weight management and type 2 diabetes, with the MHRA praising its safety and effectiveness after a rigorous assessment. The treatment is approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27–30 with a weight-related condition, and will be taken once daily with no food or water restrictions, though it is not yet available on the NHS as NICE will evaluate its cost-effectiveness. Lilly says Foundayo will launch in the UK later this month through private prescriptions at a price lower than its injectable peers, and it will require operation under prescription only. The approval adds to a growing competition in Europe between Lilly’s tablet and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, the latter already available and now competing in both private and potentially NHS channels after NICE reviews. Foundayo’s daily dosing and convenience could broaden access to GLP-1 therapies, with payers and clinicians watching closely for long-term weight-loss durability and safety. Analysts note that regulatory and pricing decisions will shape how quickly Foundayo gains traction versus Wegovy and other oral rivals.