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

The UK's medicines regulator has approved Eli Lilly's weight-loss pill, Foundayo, for use in managing weight and type 2 diabetes, marking the first country in Europe to clear the treatment for both conditions. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed this decision, stating Foundayo will initially be available via private prescription in the UK rather than through the NHS.

This approval adds to the competition between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk after the latter secured regulatory nod for its GLP-1 oral pill, Wegovy, in June. Foundayo is expected to launch in the UK later this month at a lower price point than Novo Nordisk's Mounjaro, priced at £330 for a month's supply, though specific pricing details were not disclosed.

The company is currently seeking regulatory review in the EU. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill has also received a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency, with final approval pending from the European Commission. The weight-loss drug market is shifting from injectables to oral treatments, though injectables currently hold market dominance due to their established efficacy and once-weekly dosing.

While Foundayo's once-daily dosing and ease of administration, without food or water restrictions, offer a convenience advantage over Wegovy, the latter pill remains the market leader due to its established track record.