Eli Lilly has launched its Foundayo weight loss pill in the UK, making Britain the first country in Europe where the oral treatment is available. The medicine is intended for weight management and type 2 diabetes and offers an alternative to injectable weight loss treatments.

Known by its chemical name orforglipron, Foundayo will initially be available through private prescription. The UK’s medicines regulator authorised the drug on August 10, making it the second oral GLP-1 medicine cleared for use in the UK after Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill.

Khalil Asmar, vice-president of cardio-metabolic health at Lilly Northern Europe, said the UK launch provides eligible patients with another oral treatment option alongside licensed injectable medicines.

The launch could be particularly significant for people who cannot or do not want to take injections. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said the availability of another weight loss pill could make treatment accessible to a wider range of patients.

Eli Lilly expects Foundayo to cost between £100 and £120, considerably less than its Mounjaro injection, which costs about £330 for a month’s supply through private treatment.

The company is also working with NICE on a potential rollout through England’s National Health Service. However, Foundayo is not yet available through the NHS.

Health officials have also warned consumers about counterfeit and unlicensed weight loss medicines. Patients are advised to obtain prescription treatments only through regulated pharmacies and legitimate healthcare providers.

Meanwhile, Foundayo remains under review in the European Union. Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy has received a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency, with a final European Commission decision still pending.

The launch marks another step in the rapidly expanding weight loss medication market, giving eligible UK patients greater choice between oral and injectable treatments.