UK approves Eli Lilly’s Foundayo for weight loss

A daily weight-loss pill made by Eli Lilly has been approved for use in the UK, making Britain the first country in Europe to allow the treatment. The pill, called Foundayo, is designed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. While it can be prescribed privately, the approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not guarantee it will be available on the NHS.

Foundayo belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 medications, which work by reducing appetite. Its approval follows the MHRA’s green light in June for Wegovy, a similar weight-loss pill. Eli Lilly has said the drug can immediately be used by the NHS for type 2 diabetes, but it will now apply to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England to include it as a weight-loss treatment.

Experts say Foundayo offers meaningful benefits. Dr Simon Cork from Anglia Ruskin University noted that while its weight-loss effects may be slightly less than other treatments, patients could still see “significant, clinically meaningful changes.” He added that a key advantage is likely to be cost, as it could be cheaper than existing weight-loss treatments, many of which are tightly restricted by the NHS. Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow called the approval “good news,” highlighting its convenience—unlike Wegovy, Foundayo can be taken at any time of day, not just on an empty stomach.

Foundayo may also help people who stop using weight-loss injections avoid regaining weight. Trials of a similar tablet, orforglipron, found that those who took it daily for a year were less likely to put weight back on after stopping GLP-1 injections. As with any medication, side effects can occur, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, and vomiting. Doctors still advise combining the pill with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The next step is for NICE to decide whether Foundayo will be available more widely on the NHS, which could shape how obesity and diabetes treatments are accessed across the UK.