A new once-daily weight-loss tablet has been cleared for use in the UK, marking a European first for this type of GLP-1 medication.
Eli Lilly, the company behind the Mounjaro injection, has now brought Foundayo to the UK after the US FDA approved the pill in April 2026. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed the decision in a government press release published on August 10, making Britain the “first country in Europe to approve this GLP-1 tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes”.
What sets Foundayo apart from other medicines in the same category is convenience. According to Lilly, it “is the only GLP-1 pill that can be taken any time of the day – no planning around food or drink”. Unlike the Wegovy pill, which requires patients to take it on an empty stomach with a small amount of water and wait 30 minutes before consuming food or beverages, Foundayo offers greater flexibility in daily administration.
Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, which is described as “a GLP-1 receptor agonist”. The UK government says it “works by mimicking the action of a naturally occurring hormone, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), which is released by the body after eating”. It adds, “Orforglipron acts on areas of the brain that regulate appetite, helping people feel fuller for longer, reducing hunger and decreasing food cravings. As a result, it can help people eat less and support weight reduction alongside appropriate diet and lifestyle measures. In people with type 2 diabetes orforglipron also reduces the levels of sugar in the body when the levels of sugar are high.”
The approved dosing schedule is gradual. The government states, “Treatment begins at 0.8 mg, escalating through 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg, with a minimum of one month at each dose level. Patients should follow the instructions in the Patient Information Leaflet.”
The medicine has been authorised for “weight loss and weight maintenance in adults in the UK with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of between 27 and 30”. However, it must be used “alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity”.
In clinical trials, adults taking the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of 11.2 percent of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with 2.1 percent among those taking placebo. Researchers also found that patients who had previously achieved weight loss using injectable GLP-1 medications such as tirzepatide and semaglutide were able to maintain that weight loss when switched to taking Foundayo daily, a finding that could help address the challenge of weight regain when patients stop using injectable treatments.
People considering the treatment should also be aware of the “common” side effects listed so far, including nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion and abdominal pain. If side effects develop, patients are advised to speak to a doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
At the moment, the tablet is not available on the NHS and can only be obtained with a prescription. MHRA Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access Julian Beach said, “Following rigorous assessment of orforglipron’s safety, quality, and effectiveness, we are pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes. As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists […] the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.” The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is expected to make a decision on whether to fund Foundayo through the NHS in November 2026.
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