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…
A new daily pill called Orforglipron, or Foundayo, has begun availability in UK pharmacies, aiming to assist with both diabetes management and weight loss. The medication, developed by US company Eli Lilly, received authorization from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) earlier this month. This marks Foundayo as the first such pill available in Europe.
The UK's approval of Foundayo comes after another weight-loss pill was granted consent in June. Eli Lilly's vice-president for cardiometabolic health, Khalil Asmar, expressed delight at Foundayo's availability in the UK, noting it provides an additional oral treatment choice for eligible patients, complementing existing licensed injectable treatments.
Initially, Foundayo will be accessible via private prescription. Eli Lilly is collaborating with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to evaluate the drug's potential inclusion in the NHS in England. The medication is prescribed for individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 coupled with weight-related health issues. Additionally, Foundayo can aid in controlling blood sugar levels in patients with poorly managed type 2 diabetes.
Patients need only take the pill once daily, at any time, without any food or water limitations. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, hailed the launch as a significant milestone. He highlighted the importance of this pill for patients who cannot or do not wish to use injectable medications, potentially expanding weight-loss treatment access to more people.
However, concerns persist regarding the proliferation of fake, unauthorized, or counterfeit drugs, particularly in pill form. In 2022, the MHRA seized £250,000 worth of unauthorized weight-loss pens and components from a Northampton factory. Eli Lilly is currently suing suppliers it alleges participate in an illicit hidden market for its medications.
The association advises patients to obtain weight-loss treatments exclusively from reputable pharmacies. Gregg urged the government and NHS to bolster efforts in utilizing pharmacies to ensure eligible patients receive weight-loss treatments on the NHS, rather than relying on the inconsistent services provided by general practitioners.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
