The UK has become the first country in Europe to approve orforglipron, branded as Foundayo, for weight management and type 2 diabetes. The pill, made by Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly, is one of two GLP-1 pills to receive Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorisation. It will be available via private prescription, but there is no indication yet whether it will be offered on the NHS.
Experts welcome the new oral option
Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, described the approval as a 'big step forward in the treatment of obesity.' Professor Naveed Sattar of Glasgow University added: 'The arrival of another effective oral option is a positive development and should help more people access treatment that best suits their needs and preferences.'
How Foundayo works
Like semaglutide and tirzepatide, orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a naturally occurring hormone released after eating. According to the MHRA, it 'acts on areas of the brain that regulate appetite, helping people feel fuller for longer, reducing hunger and decreasing food cravings.' It also regulates blood sugar, making it effective for patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
Foundayo is licensed for adults with insufficiently controlled diabetes, a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or obstructive sleep apnoea.
Effectiveness and side effects
Dr Earim Chaudry, chief medical officer of Voy, told Metro that people on the highest dose lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks, with about 1 in 5 participants without diabetes losing at least 20%. While results are less dramatic than those from jabs (Mounjaro users lose on average 22.5%), the pill can suit 'people who've been put off other weight loss medications, either because of needle anxiety or the food restrictions that some oral options require.' Unlike the Wegovy pill, Foundayo can be taken at any time of day, with or without food.
The MHRA lists the most common side effects as nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Dr Chaudry notes this is 'consistent with other GLP-1 weight loss medications,' adding that stomach issues tend to settle as the body adjusts. Anyone suspecting a side effect is encouraged to report it to the Yellow Card scheme.
Cost and availability
Exact pricing may differ when Foundayo becomes available later this month, but Dr Simon Cork says it is 'likely to be much cheaper than currently available medications.' Simple Online Pharmacy estimates a monthly supply will cost between £100 and £117, depending on dosage. In comparison, a minimum dose of Mounjaro costs £130 to £225 per month, with maintenance doses up to £359. Wegovy jabs start from around £85 for a 0.25mg dose, but a maximum 7.2mg dose can cost between £200 and £400 per month.
