From Monday, a new daily pill for people with diabetes and weight-related conditions is available in UK pharmacies. The UK is the first country in Europe where Orforglipron, known as Foundayo and made by the US pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, is sold on prescription.
Who can take the new pill
The drug is licensed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related condition. It can also be used to improve blood sugar levels in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, The Guardian reports.
The pill is taken once a day, at any time, with no food or water restrictions.
Pharmacists' response and warnings
Pharmacists said the move would be welcome for people who cannot use weight-loss jabs and issued a warning over the growing problem of fake, unlicensed or counterfeit versions of GLP-1 tablets. These are often exploited by illegal sellers due to their popularity for weight loss.
The drug will initially be available through private prescription, meaning patients will have to pay for the full medicine themselves. However, Eli Lilly said it is working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) on its assessment of Foundayo for a potential rollout on the health service in England.
Official statements
Khalil Asmar, the vice-president of cardiometabolic health at Lilly Northern Europe, said: "The UK is the first country in Europe where Foundayo is now available. 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, added: "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."
To know your BMI, you divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. The quickest way to find your exact number is to use an online NHS BMI Calculator instead of doing the math yourself.
