Curie Brief
Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
News
Europe's drug regulator just gave a thumbs-up to Eli Lilly's weight-loss pill Foundayo, making it only the second oral obesity drug to win EMA backing — after Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill. The EMA committee recommended it for both weight management and type 2 diabetes in adults, with patients losing up to 11% of body weight in trials. The European Commission still needs to give final approval before the drug can launch across the EU.
Europe's drug regulator just opened the door for another oral obesity treatment. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee has recommended approval of Eli Lilly's weight-loss pill Foundayo — making it the second oral obesity drug to earn EMA backing, following Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill, which received EU approval in July. The European Commission still needs to issue a final decision before Foundayo can officially launch in the region.
Foundayo contains orforglipron, a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist that curbs appetite and food intake. A standout feature: unlike Novo's Wegovy pill, it can be taken at any time of day without food or water restrictions — a convenience Lilly is leaning into as a competitive edge. The drug is already on the market in the US (since April) and the UK (since August), and Lilly is seeking approval in more than 40 countries.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: The push for oral GLP-1 options is reshaping the obesity treatment landscape — pills could draw in patients who've been hesitant to use injectable therapies, potentially expanding the market significantly.
