A new daily diabetes and weight loss pill has launched in selected UK pharmacies. Foundayo offers an alternative for eligible patients who cannot or do not want to use injections. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved orforglipron, sold as Foundayo, on August 10. US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly developed the GLP-1 medicine. UK Becomes First European Market “The UK is the first country in Europe where Foundayo is now available,” said Khalil Asmar, vice-president of cardiometabolic health at Lilly Northern Europe. “We’re pleased that this means there is another oral treatment option for eligible UK patients alongside licensed injectable treatments.” Patients can initially obtain Foundayo through a private prescription. Eli Lilly is also working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on an assessment for possible NHS use in England. Adults qualify for weight management if they have a BMI of 30 or higher. Those with a BMI between 27 and 30 may qualify if they have at least one weight-related health condition. Read More: Fatty Liver Can Damage Your Body Before Symptoms Appear Patients should combine the treatment with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Doctors can also prescribe Foundayo to improve blood sugar control in patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes. Patients take one tablet daily at any time, without food or water restrictions. The MHRA says the medicine mimics the GLP-1 hormone. It helps people feel fuller, reduces hunger and supports lower food intake. Common side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain. Pharmacists Welcome Non-Injectable Option Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, welcomed the launch. “This is another significant day with a second weight loss pill available from today in certain pharmacies. This is particularly significant for patients who cannot or do not want to take an injectable medicine and could make weight-loss treatment available to a wider range of patients.” Read More: Enjoying Food Could Be the Secret to Losing Weight The MHRA approved Britain’s first GLP-1 weight loss pill, a tablet form of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, on June 11. Foundayo now gives patients another oral option. Gregg urged the government and NHS to widen access through community pharmacies. “There must now be a redoubling of efforts within government and the NHS to use pharmacies to make sure more eligible patients in clinical need can get weight loss treatments on the NHS, rather than the current postcode lottery that exists for weight management services via GPs.” Counterfeit GLP-1 Warning Issued Pharmacists also warned that criminals may find tablets easier to copy than injectable medicines. Fake products may contain incorrect doses, contaminants or undeclared ingredients. The MHRA seized £250,000 worth of unlicensed weight loss pens and ingredients from a Northampton factory last year. Eli Lilly has also sued suppliers that it accuses of participating in an illegal market for its medicines. Regulators urged patients to obtain GLP-1 treatments only from registered pharmacies after a proper clinical assessment and valid prescription. The MHRA will continue monitoring Foundayo’s safety and effectiveness.