Britain's medicines regulator has cleared Foundayo, a once-daily pill from Eli Lilly, for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, making the UK the first country in Europe to authorise the drug. The approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency does not guarantee the pill will be funded by the NHS, meaning most patients will initially need a private prescription to access it.
According to a report published on 10 August 2026, the MHRA's decision marks the day's key development rather than a previously flagged announcement, and the regulator itself stated the medicine is approved for use in the UK but is not currently available through the NHS.
What is Foundayo and how does it work?
Foundayo, known by the generic name orforglipron, is a GLP-1 medication that suppresses appetite in the same way as injectable treatments already on the market. It is produced by Eli Lilly, the same company behind the Mounjaro injection, and is licensed for tackling both obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Can patients get it on the NHS?
Not yet, at least not for weight loss. Eli Lilly has said the pill could be used immediately within the NHS for type 2 diabetes, but the company will need to submit a separate application to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England before it can be recommended specifically as a weight-loss treatment. confirmed that under the current MHRA approval, the drug remains unavailable via the NHS for the time being.
How does it compare with other weight-loss pills?
Dr Simon Cork of Anglia Ruskin University said the weight-loss results seen with Foundayo were somewhat smaller than those recorded with some rival treatments, but he stressed patients could still expect meaningful results.
"significant, clinically meaningful changes to their weight"
He added that one of the drug's main selling points is likely to be its price, since it could undercut other weight-loss medicines that the NHS has so far rationed tightly.
Professor Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow described the approval as "good news" and highlighted the pill's flexible dosing schedule as a further advantage.
"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,"
Unlike the Wegovy tablet, which must be taken on an empty stomach, Foundayo can be taken at any point during the day, according to Professor Sattar.
How does this fit into the wider picture of oral weight-loss drugs?
Foundayo's clearance follows the MHRA's approval of a pill version of Wegovy in June 2026, which was, at the time, the UK's first oral GLP-1 tablet for weight loss. Our earlier coverage detailed how the Wegovy pill secured UK approval before becoming available through pharmacies and online retailers on a private-prescription basis, and how GLP-1 drugs have already begun reshaping shopping and eating habits across the country. As with Wegovy, Foundayo's route to NHS funding runs through a NICE assessment, which explains why private access is arriving well ahead of routine NHS provision.
Could this help people keep weight off after stopping injections?
Experts believe Foundayo may prove useful for people transitioning off weight-loss injections without regaining the weight they lost. Clinical trials found that patients taking the tablet daily for a year held onto most of their weight loss, addressing a well-documented risk associated with discontinuing GLP-1 injections. Those on the medication are still advised to maintain a healthy diet and stay physically active. Possible side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
What happens next?
Eli Lilly's next formal step is to lodge an application with NICE seeking a recommendation for Foundayo as a weight-loss treatment on the NHS in England, a process that will determine whether and when the drug becomes routinely available beyond private prescription. Until that assessment concludes, access is expected to remain confined to private prescriptions, according to .
Key Facts
- Foundayo (orforglipron) has been approved by the MHRA for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment.
- The UK is the first country in Europe to authorise the drug, according to .
- It is currently available only via private prescription, not on the NHS.
- Eli Lilly must still seek a NICE recommendation for NHS use as a weight-loss treatment.
- Trials suggest the pill helps prevent weight regain after stopping GLP-1 injections.
