There’s a new option on the table for people managing their weight or type 2 diabetes. Foundayo, the brand name for orforglipron, is an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist that was authorised by the MHRA on 10 August 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve it. You can read the full announcement on GOV.UK.
Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine, so it can only be supplied once a prescriber has assessed whether it’s right for you.
Who Foundayo Is For
Foundayo is authorised for weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to just under 30 alongside at least one weight-related health problem. It’s also authorised for adults with type 2 diabetes that isn’t well controlled, to help improve blood glucose alongside diet and exercise. These details are set out in the patient information leaflet.
Taking Foundayo
Foundayo is a once-daily tablet, and one of its more convenient features is that it doesn’t come with food or water restrictions, so it can be taken at any time of day. That said, the tablet needs to be swallowed whole rather than broken, crushed or chewed. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, the active ingredient works by influencing the body’s appetite regulation, which helps reduce food intake and, over time, body weight. The full prescribing details are available in the Summary of Product Characteristics.
Available Strengths
Foundayo is licensed in the UK in six tablet strengths. Treatment usually begins at the lowest dose, with any increases spaced at least 30 days apart and guided by how well it’s working and how it’s being tolerated.
| Tablet Strength | Notes |
|---|---|
| 0.8mg | Usual starting dose |
| 2.5mg | UK-authorised strength |
| 5.5mg | UK-authorised strength |
| 9mg | UK-authorised strength |
| 14.5mg | UK-authorised strength |
| 17.2mg | UK-authorised strength |
Safety and Things to Be Aware Of
Because Foundayo is newly authorised, it’s currently subject to additional safety monitoring in the UK, so it’s worth mentioning anything unusual to your prescriber or pharmacist as you go. If you could become pregnant, effective contraception is recommended during treatment, as Foundayo shouldn’t be used during pregnancy. It also shouldn’t be combined with another GLP-1 receptor agonist unless a healthcare professional has specifically advised that. You’ll find these points covered in the patient information leaflet.
MHRA Approval and NHS Access
It’s worth understanding what MHRA authorisation does and doesn’t mean. It confirms Foundayo is licensed for the uses described above, but it doesn’t automatically mean NICE has recommended it for NHS prescribing, so NHS funding and availability are a separate matter. The MHRA is also clear that GLP-1 medicines should only ever be obtained through a proper prescription and a legitimate pharmacy. There’s more background on this on GOV.UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take Foundayo with food?
No. It can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions, though the tablet must be swallowed whole rather than broken, crushed or chewed.
Is Foundayo available on the NHS?
MHRA authorisation confirms the medicine is licensed for use, but that’s a different question to NHS funding, which is decided separately by NICE.
Can Foundayo be taken alongside other weight loss injections?
No, not unless specifically directed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Is Foundayo suitable during pregnancy?
No. It shouldn’t be used during pregnancy, and effective contraception is recommended if you could become pregnant while taking it.
Why is Foundayo subject to additional monitoring?
As a newly authorised medicine in the UK, Foundayo is being closely tracked as part of standard safety monitoring for new treatments.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to talk through whether Foundayo could be right for you, you can contact Kings Pharmacy or visit our weight loss clinic in Birmingham.
