“The UK is the first country in Europe where Foundayo is now available."
A new daily pill that treats type 2 diabetes and supports weight loss has launched in UK pharmacies.
Pharmacists have welcomed the move, particularly for people who cannot use or do not want injectable weight-loss treatments.
However, they have also warned about the growing availability of fake, unlicensed and counterfeit GLP-1 medicines.
The new drug, orforglipron, is marketed as Foundayo and made by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised Foundayo earlier in August 2026.
The UK is the first country in Europe to approve the medicine, following the approval of another weight-loss pill in June.
Khalil Asmar, 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.”
Foundayo will initially be available through private prescriptions.
Eli Lilly said it is working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on its assessment of the drug.
The assessment could determine whether Foundayo is eventually made available through the NHS in England.
The medicine is licensed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above.
It can also be prescribed to people with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have at least one weight-related health condition.
Foundayo can additionally be used to improve blood sugar levels in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.
The tablet is taken once a day and can be taken at any time, without restrictions around food or water.
Abdal Alvi, Chief Clinical Officer at Simple Online Pharmacy, said oral treatments could open medically supported weight management to groups who had previously been put off by injections or struggled to find an option that fitted their routine.
He said: “Our data from the Wegovy pill launch in June showed clearly that oral formats reach patient groups that injectable treatment never fully did – older adults and men in particular.
“Foundayo removes another practical barrier around daily dosing. We expect it to extend that reach further still, into groups who are clinically eligible but have not yet found a pathway that fits their lives.”
The launch comes amid growing concerns over fake and unlicensed weight-loss medicines.
The MHRA seized £250,000-worth of unlicensed weight-loss pens and ingredients from a factory in Northampton in 2025.
Eli Lilly is also taking legal action against suppliers it accuses of participating in an illegal market for its medicines.
Pharmacists are urging patients to obtain weight-loss treatments only through safe and regulated pharmacies.
Foundayo’s approval follows the MHRA’s decision in June to approve the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss.
The tablet version of Wegovy became the UK’s first approved oral GLP-1 weight-loss treatment.
The arrival of Foundayo gives eligible patients another non-injectable option while questions remain over NHS access and the safety of unlicensed alternatives.
For patients considering the treatment, pharmacists and regulators are urging them to use licensed medicines supplied through regulated pharmacies.
