Eli Lilly’s weight-loss pill secures first European nod in Britain

Britain's medicines regulator has granted Eli Lilly's weight-loss pill, Foundayo, approval for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, marking the first European country to greenlight the treatment for both conditions. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made the decision, although the pill remains unavailable via the National Health Service (NHS) at present.

This approval follows Novo Nordisk's recent approval of its GLP-1 pill, Wegovy, in June, intensifying competition between the two pharmaceutical giants.

Eli Lilly's Foundayo is set to launch in the UK later this month through private prescription, according to a Lilly spokesperson who spoke to Reuters. The spokesperson noted that the pill will have a lower private price in the UK compared to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which is priced at £330 for a month's supply, but did not disclose further pricing details. Foundayo is currently under review in the EU.

Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has secured a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), with a final approval decision awaiting from the European Commission. The weight-loss drug market, traditionally dominated by injectable therapies from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, is witnessing a shift towards oral treatments. However, injectables still lead the market, thanks to their proven efficacy and once-weekly dosing schedules.

Lilly's GLP-1 tablet, a once-daily drug targeting the GLP-1 hormone, has gained momentum in the US since its approval and launch in April. However, it still lags behind Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in terms of market share. Foundayo's key advantage lies in its convenience, as it can be taken once daily without the need for food or water restrictions. In contrast, Wegovy requires patients to take it on an empty stomach with a minimal water intake and wait 30 minutes before consuming any food, beverages, or other medications.