A second weight-loss tablet has been approved for use in the UK after the arrival of the Wegovy pill.

Orforglipron, a once-daily oral drug produced by the same manufacturers as Mounjaro, has been given the green light by British health officials.

Its approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) comes just two months after the Wegovy pill – made by Novo Nordisk – in June.

A trial last year found that the orforglipron tablet, which will be known by the name Foundayo, helped patients lose 12.4 per cent of their body weight – around 27lb, or two stone – after 16 months of use.

Like the Wegovy pill, the drug is not yet available on the NHS and instead will only be offered privately.

Britain is the first European nation to approve orforglipron.

It marks yet another breakthrough for GLP-1 drugs, which are believed to be used by around 2.5million adults in the UK.

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 – classed as obese – or with a  BMI of more than 27 and a weight-related health condition, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes, will be able to access Foundayo.

Around a third of Britons are believed to be obese.

The new tablet will be authorised for use, like other GLP-1s, alongside a reduced-calorie diet.

Type 2 diabetes patients who need assistance controlling their blood sugar levels will also be able to seek a prescription.

Foundayo can be taken at any time of the day – though only once – with no restrictions on whether it is taken with food.

The Wegovy pill, on the other hand, must be taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, at least 30 minutes before eating.

According to the MHRA, 'decisions on NHS use will follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)'.

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.

'As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication, and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.'

Foundayo was approved for use in the US earlier this year.

There is no timeline for when it will be available in Britain yet, however the Wegovy pill was rolled out in early July – less than a month after it was approved by the MHRA. 

It is expected that it would cost around £3 per pill, which would be around half the price of the Mounjaro injection.

The Mounjaro jab, which can cost around £300 per month, helps patients lose around 22.5 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks. 

A trial earlier this year also found that the Foundayo pills may help patients maintain their weight loss on injections like Mounjaro or Wegovy.

In the study, 376 patients were able to keep 75 per cent of the weight off that they'd lost on the jabs. 

The MHRA says the new pills will only be available from a registered pharmacy and 'with a prescription from a doctor'.

'Buying GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers carries serious health risks,' they add.

The tablets come in a range of doses, beginning at 0.8mg, rising to 17.2mg. Each dosage must be taken for a minimum of one month, according to the MHRA.

Like other GLP-1s, the drug works by mimicking a hormone in the gut that is released by the body after eating.

This, in turn, reduces hunger, and makes patients feel fuller for longer.

The main side effects of taking orforglipron – which is made by Eli Lilly – include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and stomach pains.

Anyone who suspects they have suffered a side effect is encouraged to speak to a healthcare professional and make a report on the MHRA's Yellow Card Scheme.

Experts welcomed the arrival of the new drug.

Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, hailed it as 'a big step forward in the treatment of obesity'.

'Firstly, this medication is being authorised for people at lower body weights than other weight loss medications,' he said.

'Whilst more detail is required to understand the full scope of who will be eligible, a BMI of 30 means this will likely be available to more people.

'Additionally, whilst we still await details on cost, this drug is likely to be much cheaper than currently available medications. 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 where orforglipron is already authorised for weight loss, a monthly prescription costs $149-$349 depending on dosage, compared with over $1000 for injectable Wegovy.

'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.'

Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine and honorary consultant, at the University of Glasgow, said: 'This is good news for people living with obesity. 

'Having another oral treatment option expands choice, particularly for individuals who are reluctant to use injectable medicines or who may not require the degree of weight loss typically achieved with the most effective injections.'

Dr Marie Spreckley, researcher on the prevention of diabetes and related metabolic disorders at the University of Cambridge, said: 'Today's authorisation is an important development because orforglipron offers GLP-1 treatment as a once-daily tablet that can be taken without food or water restrictions, providing an alternative for people who may prefer not to use injections.'

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