UK approves Eli Lilly's weight-loss pill; EU access lags

The U.K.'s medicines regulator has approved Eli Lilly's oral weight-loss pill, Foundayo (orforglipron), marking the first European regulatory license for the drug. The pill is approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes.

Access to Foundayo in the European Union is not anticipated until next year. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is expected to make a decision on whether the National Health Service will cover the drug by November 18.

Foundayo represents Eli Lilly's first oral entry into the popular GLP-1 drug class, which has seen surging demand. Its injectable drug, Mounjaro, has also benefited from this trend. The arrival of competitor Novo Nordisk's oral GLP-1 pill, Wegovy, in the U.S. and U.K. this year is expected to increase demand for convenient tablet forms. Novo Nordisk's CEO, Mike Doustdar, stated the company plans to launch Wegovy in Germany soon at its chosen price, despite pressure from the U.S. administration to increase prices in Europe. The U.K. is the only country to have agreed to higher medicine prices through a bilateral deal with the U.S.

Foundayo's initial availability in the U.K. will be in the private market, with the NICE decision pending for NHS coverage.