Eli Lilly oral weight loss drug wins UK approval

Britain has become the first country in Europe to approve orforglipron, an oral weight loss and diabetes treatment developed by Eli Lilly, the UK government said.

Julian Beach, executive director for access at the UK medicines regulator, said the decision followed an assessment of the drug's safety, quality and effectiveness.

The once-daily tablet is an oral GLP-1 drug for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It will not be immediately available through the state-run National Health Service.

Orforglipron was approved in the United States in April, where it is marketed as Foundayo.

Drug companies are competing to develop obesity treatments that do not require injections. A tablet form of Wegovy, developed by Novo Nordisk, has been authorised in the UK, the United States and the European Union. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy are injected weight loss drugs.