Foundayo UK: Availability, Access and Product Information

• GPhC registered UK pharmacy and weight loss clinic, registration number 9012878
• Online consultation with UK registered prescribers for weight management
• Independent prescriber review and clinical assessment before any supply
• Genuine UK licensed medicines with the patient information leaflet in every pack

Foundayo is now authorised in the UK. The MHRA authorised orforglipron, sold under the brand name Foundayo, on 10 August 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to authorise this once-daily GLP-1 tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes. It is available as a prescription-only medicine. Foundayo is the brand name of orforglipron. It is licensed for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 30 with at least one weight related condition, alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, and to improve blood sugar control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes. It is a prescription only medicine.

Because the medicine is new, "available in the UK" raises more questions than it answers: what the UK licence covers, how supply works here, what a legitimate UK order involves, what the pack and leaflet look like, and what is still to come. This guide from the EveryDayMeds pharmacy team sets out the UK position as it stands, with the dates, the licence wording and the supply route, and explains how to tell a genuine UK supply from the counterfeit and imported products that follow every new weight loss medicine.

Is Foundayo available in the UK now?

Yes. Foundayo has a UK marketing authorisation and is a prescription-only medicine. Access through a private service involves an assessment by an appropriately qualified prescriber before a prescription is issued, followed by dispensing through a registered pharmacy.

Key things to know

• Foundayo is licensed across the UK. A marketing authorisation from the MHRA applies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• It is prescription only. Supply requires an assessment by a registered prescriber, who may be a doctor or a pharmacist independent prescriber.
• It is supplied privately. Registered pharmacies, including online ones, set their own prices for the medicine and the service around it.
• The UK product is a specific licensed pack with a UK patient information leaflet. Imported or unlabelled tablets are not the UK product.
• In ATTAIN-1, the highest-dose group had an average weight reduction of 12.4% at week 72, compared with 0.9% with placebo. The proportion achieving specific weight-loss thresholds varied according to the analysis used.
• The MHRA has said it will keep the medicine's safety and effectiveness under close review, and side effects can be reported through the Yellow Card scheme.
• Treatment suitability depends on an individual clinical assessment, and your prescriber will determine the appropriate treatment.

Why did the UK license it before the rest of Europe?

The UK has its own medicines regulator, the MHRA, so its decision was made through a UK regulatory process rather than through the European Union medicines system. The MHRA announced its authorisation on 10 August 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve orforglipron.

What does the UK licence say?

The UK licence defines who the medicine is for, what it is for and how it is supplied, and the wording is the product information every UK prescriber works to. Safety oversight sits with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which independently assessed foundayo orforglipron for UK approval and safety.

Where is the UK product information published?

The UK product information is available through the medicines information system and includes the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for healthcare professionals and the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for patients. The PIL is also supplied with the medicine.

How does supply work in the UK?

Supply in the UK runs through registered pharmacies on private prescription, and every step is regulated.

1. A registered prescriber assesses you. A doctor or a pharmacist independent prescriber checks that you meet the licensed criteria, that the medicine is safe alongside your health and other medicines, and that you are not pregnant or planning to be.
2. A private prescription is issued if the medicine is appropriate. It is for you alone, at the strength the prescriber sets.
3. A registered pharmacy dispenses it.A registered pharmacy dispenses the prescription. Pharmacies in Great Britain can be checked through the GPhC register, while pharmacies in Northern Ireland are regulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The leaflet is also in every UK pack. It includes practical directions such as how to store Foundayo and what to do if you miss a dose.
4. The prescriber reviews you at dose steps and at intervals, and adjusts the plan.
5. The pharmacy supports you with side effects, missed doses and practical questions between reviews. This prescription weight loss treatment is supplied as a prescription medicine under prescriber supervision. Do not take more than one tablet in a day unless your prescriber specifically tells you otherwise.

Does the process differ in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

The core principles are similar across the UK: Foundayo is prescription-only and its UK marketing authorisation applies throughout the UK. Pharmacy regulation differs between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, however, so patients should use an appropriately registered pharmacy in their jurisdiction.

Can you take Foundayo abroad from the UK?

Foundayo does not require special temperature storage according to the UK product information, but it should be kept in its original packaging and protected from light. When travelling, keep the medicine with its dispensing label and patient information leaflet, and check the destination country's rules before taking prescription medicines across the border.

What does a legitimate UK order look like?

A legitimate online supply should involve a proper clinical assessment, a registered prescriber, a registered pharmacy and appropriate follow-up. If a seller skips these steps, that is a reason to stop and check the service before providing payment or personal information.

What are the warning signs of counterfeit or unlicensed Foundayo?

• Supply offered without a prescription.
• Prices that appear unusually low or are presented without a clear explanation of what the price includes.
• Tablets sold on social media, marketplaces or messaging apps.
• Packaging that does not match the UK product information, or tablets supplied loose or without appropriate labelling.
• Claims of guaranteed weight loss or a set number of kilograms.
• Supply to people who do not meet the licensed criteria, or to under 18s.

The MHRA has repeatedly warned about counterfeit and unlicensed GLP-1 medicines sold online. A tablet cannot be identified as genuine by its appearance. If you have bought a product you doubt, do not take it, and report it through the Yellow Card scheme.

Who can get Foundayo in the UK?

Foundayo is intended for adults who meet the licensed BMI and health criteria and are considered suitable following an individual assessment by a prescriber. Your prescriber will also consider your medical history, current medicines and any factors that could affect the safety or effectiveness of treatment.

• BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 30 with a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Foundayo should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Women who could become pregnant should use effective contraception while taking it. If you are planning a pregnancy, speak to your prescriber, as Foundayo should be stopped at least 3 weeks before trying to conceive. If you use oral hormonal contraception, additional contraception or a non-oral method may be needed for 30 days after starting Foundayo and for 30 days after each dose increase.
• Other medical factors: Your prescriber will check your medical history, previous treatments and current medicines to decide whether orforglipron is appropriate or whether additional monitoring is needed.
• Lifestyle changes: Foundayo is prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity as part of weight management.
• Ongoing reviews: Treatment involves dose increases and follow-up assessments so your prescriber can check how you are responding and whether the treatment remains appropriate.

What should UK patients expect from the medicine?

Foundayo is taken once daily, starting at a lower dose that can be increased gradually according to the prescribed schedule and how well the treatment is tolerated. Digestive side effects are among the most common problems, particularly during dose increases, while changes in weight generally develop over time rather than immediately

What does the UK evidence base show?

ATTAIN-1 followed 3,127 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related health condition, for 72 weeks. In the highest-dose group, the average weight reduction was 12.4% compared with 0.9% with placebo. The proportion of participants reaching larger weight-loss thresholds varied depending on the analysis used, so individual results should not be predicted from the trial average.

Other GLP-1 medicines have produced different average results in their own trials, but those studies were conducted separately. There has not been a head-to-head weight-management trial directly comparing orforglipron with these medicines, so the percentages should not be treated as a direct comparison of effectiveness.

What are the side effects UK patients report?

The most common side effects are digestive, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting. These effects are often more noticeable while the dose is being increased and were generally mild to moderate in the clinical trials. Other reported effects include reduced appetite, indigestion and abdominal symptoms.

Orforglipron can also cause more serious problems in some people, including pancreatitis and gallbladder-related problems. It also delays gastric emptying and can affect the absorption of some medicines. Anyone experiencing severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, signs of dehydration, or other concerning symptoms should seek medical advice.

What is still to come for Foundayo in the UK?

The MHRA will continue monitoring the medicine's safety and effectiveness as its use expands. Future NICE guidance may also be relevant to NHS funding and access, while private prescribing remains governed by the medicine's UK marketing authorisation and individual clinical assessment.

What commonly goes wrong?

• Assuming "licensed" means every pharmacy stocks it. Ask about availability.
• Buying from an unregistered seller to avoid an assessment or a wait.
• Expecting the first month's price to be the monthly price. Strengths change over the first months. Our guide to orforglipron price explains how to compare over a year.
• Stopping at the first nausea rather than telling the prescriber.
• Skipping the diet and activity changes the licence assumes.
• Doubling a missed dose. Never. Follow the leaflet.

How can EveryDayMeds help?

EveryDayMeds provides online consultations for weight-management treatment through UK-registered healthcare professionals. Eligibility is assessed individually, and any prescription is issued by an appropriately qualified prescriber when treatment is considered suitable. Availability of specific medicines can change, so patients should confirm current stock and treatment options during their consultation.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional. It does not recommend any specific medicine or dose. Foundayo is a prescription only medicine that should only be used under the supervision of an appropriately qualified prescriber, within its UK licence. The UK patient information leaflet takes precedence over anything written here. If you have severe abdominal pain, cannot keep fluids down, or notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, seek urgent medical attention.