Regulatory documents and paperwork, representing MHRA medicine approval

UK Approves First GLP-1 Weight-Loss Pill in Europe

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised orforglipron, sold as Foundayo, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve the oral GLP-1 medicine, the regulator announced on 10 August 2026. Manufactured by Eli Lilly, orforglipron is approved for weight management in adults with a body mass index of 30 or above, or 27 to 30 with a weight-related health condition, taken alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It is also authorised to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes whose condition is not well controlled. Unlike existing injectable GLP-1 treatments such as semaglutide, orforglipron is a once-daily tablet taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, following a dose-escalation schedule from 0.8mg up to 17.2mg. Julian Beach, MHRA executive director of healthcare quality and access, said the agency was "pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet" after a "rigorous assessment of orforglipron's safety, quality, and effectiveness."

Trial results and access

Trial results reported by the Pharmaceutical Journal, from a Phase III study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September 2025, showed the 6mg dose of orforglipron produced an average 7.5% body weight loss over 72 weeks, rising to 8.4% on 12mg and 11.2% on the highest 36mg dose tested, against 2.1% on placebo. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, called the approval "another significant day" that could widen access to weight-loss treatment for patients unable to use injectable alternatives. The tablet is not currently available through the NHS; funding decisions will follow an NICE appraisal, so most access for now will be through private prescription.

What this means for your supplement routine

Orforglipron does not change what any supplement does, and this article is not a comparison between medicines and supplements. What it does highlight is a wider pattern: as more health spending, from prescription weight-loss treatments to everyday vitamins and minerals, moves outside the NHS and onto household budgets, price-conscious shoppers are having to manage more of their own health costs directly rather than relying on a GP referral. Anyone considering a prescription weight-loss treatment should discuss it with their GP, not a pharmacy or retailer, since eligibility and monitoring are clinical decisions.

How Perqen members save

As out-of-pocket health spending grows, from private prescriptions to daily supplements, price matters more. Perqen members pay £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year for member pricing across the full catalogue, which can reduce the cost of maintaining a normal vitamin and mineral routine.

This article reports published news and research and is for information only. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or medical care, and no product mentioned is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing what you take, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medicines.

Sources

Originally reported by GOV.UK / MHRA. This article has been reviewed by Dr Tosin.

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