When Will Orforglipron (Foundayo) be Available in the UK?

Orforglipron, an oral weight loss medication, is already available in the U.S. under the brand name Foundayo. It is still, however, awaiting UK approval.

Before it enters the UK market, orforglipron must first be approved by the medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA).

Let’s explore the approval process, timeline, where the medication will be available, and the expected price for orforglipron in the UK.

What Is Orforglipron?

Orforglipron is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, like currently approved Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro, used to treat those with obesity or type 2 diabetes.

However, orforglipron is taken as a daily tablet rather than a weekly injection, suiting those who don’t like needles.

The recently approved Wegovy tablets are also taken daily, however orforglipron has the advantage of being taken with or without food, at any time of day. This offers greater flexibility for patients.

In clinical trials, patients taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost 12-15% of their starting body weight after 72 weeks.

Studies comparing both orforglipron and Wegovy tablets found that, orforglipron was slightly better for controlling blood sugar and supporting weight loss (8% weight loss compared to 5%).

Learn more about orforglipron and how it works in our orforglipron medication guide.

Is Orforglipron Approved In The UK?

Orforglipron (Foundayo) is not yet approved in the UK. It is still undergoing regulatory review by the MHRA - the UK government body responsible for making sure medicines are safe and effective.

The only oral GLP-1 tablets currently available are Wegovy tablets, approved in June 2026 and available from Quick Meds from July 2026 for eligible patients.

FDA vs MHRA Approval Timelines

Foundayo (orforglipron) is already being sold in the U.S. as it’s been approved by the U.S. food and drug administration (FDA).

The process involved close collaboration between the FDA and Eli Lilly (the manufacturer). As Foundayo was recognised as an important new drug that addresses a critical national health priority, the approval process was fast tracked.

Just 50 days after filing it as a national priority, Eli Lilly’s Foundayo gained approval in the U.S. That’s not yet the case for the UK.

As of February 2026, Eli Lilly had submitted orforglipron to regulators in over 40 countries for approval, including the UK. The MHRA has 210 days to make a decision about new medicines after submission, with the timeline paused if they need further information from the pharmaceutical company.

Based on this timeline, we should expect the MHRA to decide whether to approve orforglipron between late 2026 and early 2027.

When Might Orforglipron Launch?

At present, it is not clear when orforglipron may be launched in the UK. However, using what we know about the approval process so far, we can expect approval in late 2026/early 2027 if everything goes to plan.

Following approval, it can take a few days to a few weeks for wholesalers to distribute stock levels before it is widely available.

Will Orforglipron Only Be Available On Prescription?

Yes, as in the U.S, orforglipron will be a prescription-only weight loss medication.

Due to the nature of the medication, prescriber intervention is essential before supply, ensuring treatment is only accessed by patients where it is deemed clinically safe and appropriate

This will follow the same process as other prescription-only treatments online. An online consultation, followed by prescriber review, before the order is dispatched.

Remember any website that is offering orforglipron or any other prescription medication without a formal consultation process, is likely to be illegitimate, and should be avoided.

NHS vs Private Availability

The first patients to access orforglipron would likely be from private providers rather than through the NHS. This is because the NHS has an additional approval process that all new medications must go through.

As well as showing safety and effectiveness, the national institute for health and care excellence (NICE) reviews the cost of the treatment before allowing it to be prescribed on the NHS.

Additionally, if NICE approves orforglipron, it may only be available to patients under strict criteria, as is the case with Mounjaro and Wegovy. For the NHS, they will only subsidise the cost to those patients who have the highest clinical need.

When accessing privately, this barrier is removed. So long as a patient meets the minimum safety criteria, they can access the treatment instantly.

Can You Buy Orforglipron Now?

No, orforglipron is not yet available in the UK, and is in the final stages of regulatory review.

Companies in the UK claiming to sell orforglipron should be approached with caution. As a (currently) unregulated medicine, it cannot be obtained from any registered wholesalers. These companies may be selling counterfeit products illegally.

For those looking to start their weight loss journey now, but do not like injections, Quick Meds is currently offering Wegovy tablets to all eligible patients. Click here to learn more about the tablets to see if they are right for you.

How Much Will Orforglipron Cost?

At present, we have no pricing information available. In the US, the cost ranges from $149 to $299 per month.

The prices in the UK are expected to follow the US prices and prices of other GLP-1 medications currently available.

When available on the NHS, to those who are not exempt from NHS prescription charges, orforglipron will attract the standard NHS prescription charge - currently £9.90 per item.