Eli Lilly has launched its new oral weight-loss treatment, Foundayo, in the United Kingdom.
The company announced the launch on Monday.
Britain has become the first European country where patients can access the pill.
Doctors can prescribe Foundayo privately for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
The medicine contains orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 treatment developed by Eli Lilly.
UK Regulator Approves Foundayo
Britain’s medicines regulator authorised Foundayo on August 10.
The approval allows private healthcare providers to offer the treatment to eligible patients.
Foundayo becomes the second GLP-1 weight-loss tablet available in the UK.
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill was the first oral treatment in this category to reach the British market.
NHS Access Still Requires NICE Review
Foundayo is not yet available through Britain’s National Health Service.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) must first assess whether the treatment offers enough value for NHS use.
Eli Lilly said it is working with NICE during the assessment.
The company wants Foundayo to become available for weight management through the public health system.
However, patients currently need to use private providers if they want access to the pill.
NICE Requests More Information
NICE has already held its first committee meeting about Foundayo.
A spokesperson said the agency has requested additional information from the company.
NICE has not yet announced a date for its second review.
The agency also said Novo Nordisk has not yet submitted evidence for its Wegovy pill assessment.
That means the two major oral GLP-1 treatments still face further regulatory steps before wider NHS access.
Foundayo Could Cost Less Than Mounjaro
Eli Lilly expects private patients to pay between £100 and £120 per month for Foundayo.
That price would make the pill considerably cheaper than Mounjaro injections.
A month’s supply of Mounjaro currently costs around £330, according to the company.
The final price can vary between private healthcare providers.
Patients may also pay more as they move to higher doses.
Wegovy Pill Prices Vary Across UK
Private providers currently charge between £74 and £129 per month for initial Wegovy pill doses.
Some providers offer those prices through multi-month subscription plans.
The cost generally increases when patients move to stronger doses.
Foundayo’s expected price therefore places it within a similar private-treatment market.
The launch could give UK patients another oral option for weight management.
Foundayo and Wegovy Expand Oral GLP-1 Market
GLP-1 medicines have become increasingly important in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Most well-known treatments have traditionally come as injections.
However, oral medicines could offer a more convenient option for some patients.
The launch of Foundayo gives British consumers another choice.
It could also increase competition between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
US Prices Differ From UK Costs
Foundayo and Wegovy are also available through self-pay programs in the United States.
Prices for both oral treatments start at around $149 per month.
Higher doses can cost considerably more.
Foundayo can reach about $349 per month, while Wegovy can rise to around $299.
A new US Medicare pilot also offers selected patients access to the oral medicines for $50 per month.
European Approval Still Pending
Foundayo has not yet received final approval across the European Union.
European regulators continue to review the medicine.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill has received a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency.
The European Commission must still make the final decision on that treatment.
The UK launch therefore gives Eli Lilly an early position in Europe’s growing oral weight-loss market.
What Comes Next for Foundayo?
The Foundayo weight-loss pill will initially remain available through private prescriptions in Britain.
Its future NHS availability will depend on the ongoing NICE assessment.
If NICE recommends the treatment, more eligible patients could eventually gain access through the public health system.
For now, Eli Lilly’s launch marks another major step in the expanding market for oral GLP-1 medicines.
The competition between Foundayo and Wegovy could also shape pricing and treatment choices for patients across the UK.
