UK First in Europe to Approve a Weight-Loss Pill
Britain has become the first country in Europe to approve a daily weight-loss pill, the medicines regulator said, clearing the tablet orforglipron for adults who are obese or overweight with related conditions, and for type 2 diabetes. It offers an alternative to the injections that have transformed weight-loss treatment. The pill is not yet available on the NHS, pending an assessment of its cost-effectiveness.
A once-daily tablet could widen access to a class of drugs whose injectable versions have proved wildly popular but costly and awkward to administer. The regulator’s approval covers adults with a body mass index of 30 or above, or 27 and above with weight-related illness, though for now it will be available only privately until the NHS spending watchdog rules on whether it offers value for money. Demand is likely to be huge, raising questions about supply, safety monitoring and the pressure on stretched health budgets. The drugs are reshaping how obesity is treated. Watch whether the NHS approves it and how quickly it reaches patients.