An oral weight-loss drug that requires no injections and carries no food or water restrictions has received regulatory clearance in the UAE, with the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) formally registering orforglipron — sold under the brand name Foundayo™ — for the long-term management of chronic obesity.
Developed by American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, the once-daily pill belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which work by regulating appetite and curbing excessive food consumption. The UAE’s approval places it ahead of nearly every other country globally, with only one nation having registered the medication before it.
Tackling obesity carries particular urgency for the EDE, according to Director-General Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, who pointed to the condition’s links to more than 200 diseases and health complications — among them type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and at least 13 forms of cancer. The drug’s clinical trial results, she said, validated both its effectiveness and patient response before the agency moved to grant approval.
“The establishment is committed to supporting an integrated and sustainable pharmaceutical ecosystem based on innovation and strengthened collaboration with its partners across the pharmaceutical sector,” Al Kaabi said. “We will continue to operate according to the highest global regulatory standards to ensure the availability of high-quality treatments within accelerated timeframes, strengthen prevention efforts and support the sustainability of the national pharmaceutical system in ways that help protect community health.”
In clinical trials, participants on the highest dose of orforglipron recorded an average weight loss of 12.4% when the drug was combined with lifestyle modification guidance — results that factored into the EDE’s regulatory assessment.
Roberta Marinelli, President and General Manager of Eli Lilly’s META Hub, said availability in the UAE gives eligible patients another pathway for managing the disease alongside existing treatment options.
The drug is prescribed as part of a broader programme incorporating lifestyle changes rather than as a standalone solution. Eligible patients are expected to gain access to it starting May 2026.
