The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved Foundayo, a daily oral medication developed by Eli Lilly for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The drug represents a form of GLP-1 medication designed to suppress appetite. While individuals will be able to obtain the medication through private prescriptions, the regulatory approval does not guarantee automatic availability through the National Health Service. Eli Lilly has indicated that the drug can be immediately utilized by the NHS for type 2 diabetes treatment but plans to submit a separate application to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence seeking recommendation for weight-loss purposes.
The approval comes following the MHRA’s earlier approval of Wegovy in pill form. According to Dr Simon Cork from Anglia Ruskin University, while Foundayo’s weight-loss effects may be less pronounced than certain alternative treatments, patients could still experience “significant, clinically meaningful changes to their weight.” A notable advantage cited by experts is the medication’s expected lower cost compared to other weight-loss treatments, which the NHS has historically restricted substantially.
Prof Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow characterized the development as positive news, highlighting an additional benefit regarding convenience. Unlike Wegovy tablets, which require consumption on an empty stomach, Foundayo can be taken at any time during the day. Clinical trials demonstrated that patients who had previously used weight-loss injections and subsequently received the daily tablet, also called orforglipron, for a year successfully avoided significant weight regain—a recognized complication upon discontinuing GLP-1 injections.
Potential side effects associated with Foundayo use include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, and vomiting. Health guidance recommends that individuals using weight-loss medications complement treatment with a balanced diet and adequate physical activity.
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