UK APPROVES ONCE-DAILY WEIGHT LOSS PILL ORFORGLIPRON

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised Orforglipron, a once-daily tablet manufactured by Eli Lilly and branded as Foundayo, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve the medication. The drug is a GLP-1 agonist, a class of medication that lowers blood sugar levels, slows food digestion and can reduce appetite. Orforglipron is licensed for people with a body mass index of 30 or above, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have at least one weight-related condition. The medication can also be used to improve blood sugar control in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

The tablet is taken once daily with no food or water restrictions, with dosage beginning at 0.8mg and increasing to a maximum of 17.2mg over a minimum of one month at each level. Existing GLP-1 medications on the market are administered as injections and can be costly. According to one report, patients on the new pill shed approximately 11 per cent of their body weight. Julian Beach, MHRA executive director of healthcare quality and access, stated that the agency was "pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes" following assessment of its safety, quality and effectiveness.

Foundayo is prescription-only and is not yet available through the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will evaluate the medication as part of the health service's spending assessment process. The MHRA approved the first GLP-1 tablet for weight loss, a tablet form of Wegovy, in June. The agency stated it will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of Orforglipron following approval.