A new daily pill called Foundayo, designed to treat diabetes and assist with weight loss, became available in UK pharmacies from Monday, 24 August 2026. The drug, manufactured by US pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, was authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) earlier this month, making the UK the first European country to approve it.
Foundayo is initially accessible through private prescription. Eli Lilly has stated it is collaborating with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to assess the drug for a potential rollout within the NHS in England.
The pill is licensed for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 who also have at least one weight-related condition. It can also be used to improve blood sugar levels in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. The pill is taken once daily without food or water restrictions.
Pharmacists have welcomed this new option, particularly for those unable or unwilling to use injectable weight-loss treatments. However, concerns have been raised regarding the growing problem of fake, unlicensed, or counterfeit GLP-1 tablets, which can be easier to produce in pill form than injectables. Patients are advised to ensure they obtain weight-loss treatments only from safe and regulated pharmacies.