New daily diabetes pill that helps with weight loss launches in UK pharmacies
Foundayo will be available on private prescription, with pharmacists warning of counterfeit GLP-1 problem A new daily pill that treats diabetes and helps with weight loss will be available in UK pharmacies from Monday. Pharmacists said the move would be welcome for people who cannot use weight-loss jabs, but also issued a warning over the growing problem of fake, unlicensed or counterfeit…
Eli Lilly's new daily diabetes pill, Orforglipron, also known as Foundayo, will be available in UK pharmacies starting Monday. The drug, approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), aids in weight loss and managing blood sugar levels for those with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.
The UK is the first European country to approve Foundayo, following another weight-loss pill approval in June. Khalil Asmar, vice-president of cardiometabolic health at Lilly Northern Europe, expressed satisfaction over the availability of this oral treatment option alongside licensed injectable alternatives for eligible UK patients.
Orforglipron will initially be accessible via private prescription, with Eli Lilly collaborating with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to assess potential NHS coverage in England. The drug is prescribed to individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related condition. It can also be used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with poorly managed type 2 diabetes.
Henry Gregg, CEO of the National Pharmacy Association, welcomed the new pill, stating that it signifies a significant day with a second weight loss option available in certain pharmacies. This development is particularly crucial for patients who cannot or do not prefer injectable medicines, potentially expanding weight-loss treatment availability to a broader patient base.
However, concerns exist regarding the proliferation of fake, unlicensed, or counterfeit GLP-1 tablets, which can be more readily produced in pill form than injectables. Last year, the MHRA seized £250,000 worth of unauthorized weight-loss pens and ingredients from a Northampton factory. Eli Lilly is currently suing suppliers accused of participating in an illicit hidden market for its drugs.
Patients are urged to obtain weight-loss treatments exclusively through safe and regulated pharmacies. Gregg emphasized the need for intensified efforts within government and the NHS to ensure more eligible patients in clinical need receive weight-loss treatments on the NHS, rather than relying on the current inconsistent services provided by GPs.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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