Your ultimate guide to the brand new weight loss wonder pill set to be EVEN cheaper & easier than fat jabs

MOVE over fat jabs – there’s another weight loss wonder that’s got EVERYONE talking. The once-a-day pill orforglipron – called Foundayo and made by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of blockbuster injection Mounjaro – was newly approved in the UK yesterday, following the Wegovy pill. Orforglipron, manufactured by Eli Lilly, was yesterday approved in the UK Credit: Reuters Experts reckon the pill will be just as popular as Mounjaro Credit: Getty The UK is the first country in Europe to give the drug the regulatory ‘green light’. Experts reckon the pill will be just as popular as the “King Kong” of weight loss jabs, Mounjaro, as it will be cheaper and easier to take. They predict that some seven million people could be taking weight-loss pills by this time next year. The Wegovy pill, made by rival pharma giant Novo Nordisk, only went on sale this summer. Both drugs work the same way, by copying GLP hormones that tell the brain your stomach is full, quashing your appetite and preventing over-eating. But, they aren’t identical – and side effects, as well as average weight loss, on the drugs do differ. “Although both medicines belong to the GLP-1 family and are designed to help reduce appetite and support weight loss, they aren’t identical medicines,” Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist Click, says. “They have some important practical differences.” So how does orforglipron work? Are the side effects worse than Mounjaro? And is it more effective than the Wegovy pill? Here, Sun Health explains everything you need to know… Which fat jab pills are available? Eli Lilly said Foundayo will be available for prescription in the UK by the end of August Credit: Getty Wegovy and orforglipron are the only two GLP-1 pills currently approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). MHRA approval is required before a drug can be used or prescribed in the UK. Tens of thousands of people have already bought the Wegovy pill, which was launched in Britain privately last month at pharmacies including Boots and Superdrug. Other online pharmacies reported waiting lists of more than 100,000 patients who wanted to start taking the daily tablet. However, neither pill is yet available on the NHS. This is because a drug needs to be signed off as good value for money by the spending watchdog Nice, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, before it can be used on the NHS. When can I get the new pill? Eli Lilly said Foundayo, which also treats type 2 diabetes, will be available for prescription in the UK by the end of August. The MHRA said it was approved for patients who are obese, or those who are overweight with a related health condition meaning roughly 20 million people in England could be eligible. Julian Beach, the MHRA’s executive director of healthcare quality and access, said: “Following rigorous assessment of orforglipron’s safety, quality, and effectiveness, we are pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes. “This is a prescription-only medication and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.” How much will it cost? British prices for Foundayo are yet to be set. But in the US – where it was approved in April – the pills are about half the price of Mounjaro, which can cost more than £300 per month. Eli Lilly also said the pill will be cheaper than Mounjaro injections. By comparison, the Wegovy pill currently costs between £50 and £150 per month from private online pharmacies. Dr Simon Cork, a senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, described the MHRA decision as a “big step forward in the treatment of obesity for a few reasons”. He added: “Pill medications are much cheaper to manufacture than injectable medications. “And the nature of the active compound in this medication is much cheaper to make than those found in injectable medications or in oral Wegovy. “In the US, a monthly prescription costs $149-$349 (£110-£258) depending on dosage, compared with over $1000 (£740) for injectable Wegovy.” Is it more effective than the Wegovy pill? Long-term users of the Wegovy pill at the highest dose could lose up to 17 per cent body weight Credit: Alamy The answer to this is more complex than a simple yes or no. Studies suggest that long-term users of the Wegovy pill at the highest dose could lose up to 17 per cent body weight, versus about 12 per cent on the Foundayo pill. But that does not mean people won’t shed significant pounds on Foundayo. Other research suggested that the pill was actually more effective in patients with type 2 diabetes. “The trials weren’t head-to-head studies, so the results can’t tell us which medicine will produce greater weight loss in an individual patient,” Mr Kanani says. “Response can also vary considerably between people.” Dr Cork adds: “Whilst the weight loss experienced on orforglipron is typically lower than that experienced with injectable medications, patients can still expect to see significant, clinically meaningful changes to their weight.” Earlier this year, a trial also found that the drug could be used as a “maintenance” tool, after 376 patients who had been taking Mounjaro or Wegovy injections were able to keep 75 per cent of the lost weight off by switching to pills. Dr Louis Aronne, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, said at the time that the daily pills should be considered “treatment for life” in the same way that blood pressure medication and diabetes treatment are long-term. This suggests that Foundayo is a “much more economically viable option for long term weight management” after using the jabs, Dr Cork says. The 5 key differences between the Wegovy pill and Foundayo Foundayo Active ingredient: Orforglipron Medicine type: Small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist Taken: Once daily Food restrictions: None Weight-loss: Up to 12.4 per cent average at 72 weeks Common side effects: Mainly gastrointestinal UK approval: August 10, 2026 Wegovy Pill Active ingredient: Semaglutide Medicine type: Peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist Taken: Once daily Food restrictions: Taken after fasting, wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking Weight-loss: Around 13.6 per cent average at 64 weeks Common side effects: Mainly gastrointestinal UK approval: June 11, 2026 How do you take it? Lilly’s new drug has the advantage of having no restrictions on the time of day its taken or whether it can be taken with food. The Wegovy pill meanwhile, requires users to take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before eating. Professor Naveed Sattar, an expert in cardiometabolic medicine and honorary consultant at the University of Glasgow, said: “One advantage of orforglipron is its convenience. “Unlike oral semaglutide, which must be taken fasting before food, it can be taken at any time of day, making treatment simpler for some people.” Mr Abbas adds: “This could be one of the biggest practical differences for patients. Taking a tablet without having to plan it around meals or fasting could be more convenient for some people. “However, both medicines need to be taken exactly as prescribed, and convenience shouldn’t be the only consideration when deciding which treatment is appropriate.” Can you switch from the jab to the pill? There is no direct pill dose match with the jab Credit: Getty According to medics, switching from the weekly injections to the pill will be possible. But it must be done under medical supervision. Typically, you’ll finish your last injection and wait a week before you take your first daily pill. There is no direct dose match with the jab and your prescriber may adjust your dose. Foundayo is also introduced gradually, with at least 30 days at each dose level to prevent any major side effects. Who is eligible? Like the Wegovy Pill, Foundayo will be available for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or those with a BMI of between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related condition. This could include heart disease, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes. Experts have also suggested that despite being eligible, men were not opting for the jabs but are more willing to take weight loss pills. Dr David Gwynne, Medical Director at Boots Online Doctor says: “Since introducing the Wegovy tablet, we’ve seen strong interest from a new patient base, with more than two-thirds of patients being new to the service. “We’ve also seen a notable uplift in the proportion of men accessing our weight-management service. “The Wegovy tablet now accounts for around half (47 per cent) of the prescriptions issued to new patients accessing the service each week.“ What are the side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, weight loss jabs may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. How do side effects differ? Side effects of the pills are similar to the jab – roughly one in 10 experience mild effects including constipation, nausea, stomach pain, fatigue, diarrhoea, acid reflux and bloating. For Foundayo, the MHRA lists nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain among the most common side effects. But experts warn that people shouldn’t assume that because these medicines come as tablets rather than injections, they will necessarily cause fewer side effects.” In clinical trials, most digestive side effects were mild to moderate, meaning unpleasant but manageable for most people. Around four per cent of gastrointestinal side effects were considered severe. Dr Marie Spreckley, research programme manager for diabetes and metabolic disorder prevention at the University of Cambridge, says: “The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, including nausea, constipation, diarrhoea and vomiting, and were generally mild to moderate. “However, adverse events led more participants to discontinue orforglipron than placebo, particularly at higher doses. “As with any newly authorised medicine, longer-term and real-world evidence will be important for understanding its effectiveness and safety, and how well people tolerate and continue taking it in routine care.”