The UK has become the first country in Europe to approve the GLP-1 tablet orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, on 10 August 2026.
Alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the medicine is authorised for weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible adults.
It is authorised for adults with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related health condition.
BMI uses a person’s height and weight to estimate whether their weight is within a healthy range.
Orforglipron has also been authorised to improve blood sugar control in people whose type 2 diabetes is not sufficiently controlled.
Julian Beach, executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, 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, this is a prescription-only medication, and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.”
Orforglipron is taken once daily and can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions.
Treatment starts at 0.8mg before increasing through doses of 2.5mg, 5.5mg, 9mg, 14.5mg and 17.2mg, with patients spending at least one month at each dose level.
Patients should follow the instructions in the Patient Information Leaflet.
The medicine is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a type of drug that mimics glucagon-like peptide, or GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone released after eating.
It works on parts of the brain involved in appetite, helping people feel fuller for longer while reducing hunger and food cravings. In people with type 2 diabetes, it can also lower blood sugar when levels are high.
The most common side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain.
Although the medicine has been approved for use in the UK, it is not currently available through the NHS.
Any decision on NHS use will follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
All GLP-1 medicines are prescription-only treatments and can only be obtained from a registered pharmacy with a prescription from a doctor.
Buying GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers carries serious health risks.
It is against the law to promote any prescription-only medication directly to the public.
Anyone who suspects they are experiencing a side effect is advised to speak to a doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, either online or through the MHRA Yellow Card app.
Authorisation for orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, was granted to Eli Lilly on 10 August 2026.
