The UK has approved Foundayo, a once-daily GLP-1 pill for weight management and type 2 diabetes, opening a new oral option beyond injections.
- The UK is first in Europe to approve orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes
- Foundayo is a once-daily GLP-1 pill, offering an option beyond injectable treatments
- The highest dose delivered 9.6% average weight loss over 72 weeks, while the 36 mg dose lowered HbA1c by 1.91 points
The UK has become the first country in Europe to authorize Foundayo (orforglipron), a once-daily GLP-1 tablet for weight management and
UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes
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Foundayo is a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly. Unlike injectable GLP-1 medicines, it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, while clinical trials have shown significant improvements in body weight and blood sugar control.
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Why Has the UK Approved This New Foundayo Weight-Loss Pill?
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised Foundayo (orforglipron) on August 10, 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve the tablet for both weight management and type 2 diabetes.
The authorization allows Foundayo to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in eligible adults.
For weight management, it is authorized for adults with:
-
BMI of 30 or above, or - BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related health condition.
It is also authorized to improve blood sugar control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
The MHRA said the decision followed an assessment of the medicine’s safety, quality, and effectiveness. It will continue monitoring Foundayo’s safety and effectiveness as with other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The UK decision follows a U.S. milestone earlier this year. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Foundayo was approved on April 1, 2026, for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program
However, the U.S. approval was specifically for weight management, while the new UK authorization also covers type 2 diabetes.
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How Much Weight Did Foundayo Help People Lose in the 72-Week Trial?
According to The Lancet, the ATTAIN-2 phase 3 trial tested once-daily orforglipron in 1,613 adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes. Participants received different doses of orforglipron or placebo for 72 weeks, along with lifestyle changes (3✔ ✔Trusted Source
Orforglipron, an oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (ATTAIN-2): a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial
).
Foundayo’s Weight-Loss Results After 72 Weeks
| What Was Studied? | What the Trial Found |
|---|---|
| People studied | 1,613 adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes |
| How long? | 72 weeks |
| How was it given? | Once-daily orforglipron, alongside lifestyle changes |
| Lowest dose: 6 mg | Participants lost 5.1% of their body weight on average |
| 12 mg dose | Participants lost 7.0% of their body weight on average |
| Highest dose: 36 mg | Participants lost 9.6% of their body weight on average |
| Placebo group | Participants lost 2.5% of their body weight on average |
| What happened as the dose increased? | Weight loss increased from 5.1% to 9.6% |
| What about blood sugar? | HbA1c and other cardiometabolic measures also improved |
| Overall result | Orforglipron produced significantly more weight loss than placebo |
People taking orforglipron lost considerably more weight than those taking placebo, and the effect was greater at higher doses.
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Did Foundayo Lower Blood Sugar More Than Oral Semaglutide?
The ACHIEVE-3 trial, published in The Lancet, compared once-daily Foundayo (orforglipron) with oral semaglutide in 1,698 adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar was not adequately controlled with
Efficacy and safety of once-daily oral orforglipron compared with oral semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes (ACHIEVE-3): a multinational, multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial
).
After 52 weeks, Foundayo produced a larger drop in HbA1c than the oral semaglutide doses tested.
Foundayo vs Oral Semaglutide: Blood Sugar and Weight Results
| Treatment | HbA1c Reduction | What the Result Means |
|---|---|---|
| Foundayo 36 mg | 1.91 percentage points | Largest drop in average blood sugar |
| Foundayo 12 mg | 1.71 percentage points | Greater blood sugar reduction than both semaglutide doses tested |
| Oral semaglutide 14 mg | 1.47 percentage points | Improved blood sugar, but less than Foundayo 36 mg |
| Oral semaglutide 7 mg | 1.23 percentage points | Smallest blood sugar reduction among the four groups |
| Overall ACHIEVE findings | — | Foundayo also improved body weight in ACHIEVE-2, ACHIEVE-3 and ACHIEVE-5 |
The trials suggest that Foundayo can do two things at the same time: help lower blood sugar and support weight loss.
What Side Effects Can Foundayo Cause?
Foundayo can cause side effects, particularly involving the digestive system.
The MHRA lists the most common side effects as:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Abdominal pain
The ACHIEVE-3 trial found gastrointestinal adverse events in 59% of participants receiving orforglipron 12 mg and 58% receiving 36 mg. The corresponding rates with oral semaglutide were 37% and 45%.
More people receiving orforglipron also stopped treatment because of adverse events. The study found a greater increase in pulse rate with orforglipron than with oral semaglutide.
The FDA’s Foundayo approval also lists warnings and precautions involving:
- Pancreatitis
- Severe gastrointestinal reactions
- Acute kidney injury associated with fluid loss
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity
- Diabetic retinopathy complications
- Acute gallbladder disease
- Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation
When Will Foundayo Be Available in the UK?
Although the MHRA has authorised Foundayo, it is not currently available through the NHS.
The MHRA said decisions about NHS use will follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The medicine is prescription-only. The MHRA has also warned people against purchasing GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers because of the health risks associated with potentially counterfeit or unsafe products.
The FDA had already approved Foundayo for weight management in the United States in April 2026. The new UK decision now gives orforglipron a broader regulatory milestone by authorizing it for both weight management and type 2 diabetes.
For now, the significance of Foundayo is clear: a once-daily GLP-1 tablet has moved from clinical trials into regulatory approval for two major metabolic conditions, with the UK becoming the first European country to authorise it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Foundayo?
A: Foundayo, also called orforglipron, is a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Q: What Did The Uk Approve Foundayo For?
A: The UK authorized Foundayo for weight management in eligible adults and for improving blood sugar control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
Q: How Much Weight Did People Lose With Foundayo?
A: In the 72-week ATTAIN-2 trial, average weight loss ranged from 5.1% to 9.6%, depending on the dose. The placebo group lost 2.5%.
Q: Did Foundayo Lower Blood Sugar Better Than Oral Semaglutide?
A: In the ACHIEVE-3 trial, Foundayo produced greater HbA1c reductions than the oral semaglutide doses tested. The 36 mg Foundayo dose reduced HbA1c by 1.91 percentage points, compared with 1.47 points with oral semaglutide 14 mg.
Q: Is Foundayo An Injection?
A: No. Foundayo is taken once daily as an oral tablet, unlike injectable GLP-1 medicines.
Q: What Are The Common Side Effects Of Foundayo?
A: The commonly reported side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain.
Q: Is Foundayo Available Through The NHS?
A: Not currently. Although the MHRA has authorized the medicine, NHS availability requires further assessment, including the established NICE evaluation process.
References:
- UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes – (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-first-in-europe-to-authorise-orforglipron-for-weight-management-and-type-2-diabetes)
- FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program – (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-new-molecular-entity-under-national-priority-voucher-program)
- Orforglipron, an oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (ATTAIN-2): a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial – (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02165-8/abstract)
- Efficacy and safety of once-daily oral orforglipron compared with oral semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes (ACHIEVE-3): a multinational, multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial – (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00202-3/abstract)
Source-Medindia