The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Eli Lilly’s oral weight loss therapy, Foundayo (orforglipron), intensifying competition further between itself and prime obesity rival, Novo Nordisk, as the two battle it out for market share in the space. Indicated for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, once-daily, prescription-only Foundayo will now become available to British adults with obesity or insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes requiring weight loss or maintenance. To be eligible for treatment with Foundayo in the UK, patients will need to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or a BMI of between 27 and 30 if they have at least one weight-related comorbidity. Following the UK approval, Lilly’s shares increased by 3.89% from a 7 August close of $1185.71 to a 10 August close of $1231.94. While Lilly is flying ahead of competition in the weight loss injectables space, posting 91% sales growth for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in Q2 2026, the Indiana-based pharma giant is not yet besting Novo in the oral weight loss ring, with Citi analysts calling Foundayo’s $98m Q2 sales “uninspiring”.