First in Europe: UK Approves Eli Lilly’s Weight Loss Pill

The UK has become the first country in Europe to approve orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 medicine developed by Eli Lilly for weight management and type 2 diabetes. 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised the treatment on 10 August 2026 following an assessment of its safety, quality and effectiveness. 

The once-daily tablet offers an alternative to injectable GLP-1 medicines, with no food or water restrictions when taken. 

Oral GLP-1 expands treatment options

Marketed as Foundayo, orforglipron is authorised for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 alongside at least one weight-related comorbidity. 

It is also approved to improve glycaemic control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.

The medicine works by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone naturally released after eating. By acting on areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation, orforglipron can increase feelings of fullness, reduce hunger and decrease food cravings. 

"Today, fewer than 1 in 10 people who could benefit from a GLP-1 are taking one, held back by access, stigma, perceived complexity or the belief that their condition isn't serious enough for treatment,” says David A. Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. 

“We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for those living with obesity or who are overweight and living with weight-related complications.

"As a convenient, once-daily oral pill that delivers meaningful weight loss, this is obesity care designed for the real world." 

For people with type 2 diabetes, it can also reduce elevated blood sugar levels.

The treatment begins at 0.8mg before increasing through a series of doses up to 17.2mg, with at least one month at each dose level. 

It is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Clinical results support weight management

Eli Lilly's ATTAIN clinical trial programme provided evidence supporting orforglipron's use in weight management. 

In the ATTAIN-1 trial, participants who remained on treatment and received the highest dose lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, compared with 0.9% for those receiving placebo.

The trial also recorded reductions in several markers associated with cardiovascular risk, including waist circumference, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure across the doses studied.

The medicine's oral format could provide another option for patients who may find injectable treatments less suitable or convenient. 

Its once-daily administration and lack of food or water restrictions also differentiate it from some existing GLP-1 treatments.

“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,” says Julian Beach, MHRA Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access.

“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.”

NHS access remains undecided

Despite the MHRA authorisation, patients cannot currently access orforglipron through the NHS.

Its potential use within NHS services will be subject to established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

As a prescription-only medicine, orforglipron can only be obtained through a registered pharmacy with a prescription from a healthcare professional. 

The MHRA has also warned against obtaining GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers, which can pose serious health risks.

Common side effects associated with orforglipron include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain. 

Patients experiencing suspected side effects are encouraged to contact a doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report them through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme.

The UK authorisation marks a further development in the use of GLP-1 medicines for obesity and type 2 diabetes, while the upcoming assessment of orforglipron's NHS use will determine how widely the treatment becomes available within the country's healthcare system.

FDA approval preceded UK authorisation

The UK decision follows approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2026, making the US the first market to authorise Foundayo. 

The FDA approved orforglipron for adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight with weight-related medical problems, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

"People living with obesity need treatment options that meet them where they are – and for many, a once-daily pill that can be taken with no food or water restrictions can offer them greater flexibility in how they approach their treatment," says Deborah Horn, DO, Director of the Center for Obesity Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. 

"With Foundayo, we now have an oral option that delivered an average of 12.4% weight loss at the highest dose in clinical trials – addressing both the clinical realities of obesity and the practical challenges patients face every day." 

In the US, Eli Lilly launched Foundayo through LillyDirect, with prescriptions available from April 2026. 

The company has also submitted orforglipron for weight management and/or type 2 diabetes in more than 40 countries, with plans to launch in each market following regulatory approval.