UAE Approves Lilly's Foundayo Pill for Type 2 Diabetes, Third Country to Do So

The approval adds a second indication in the UAE. The EDE cleared Foundayo for weight management in April, and the UAE has been one of the first markets where the pill is on sale. Pharmaphorum reported in August that Foundayo was commercially available only in the United States and the UAE.

Foundayo is an oral, non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist taken once a day. Unlike some oral treatments in the class, it can be taken without restrictions on food or water, the EDE said. The regulator said the drug improves blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes while supporting long-term weight management, and that it should be used under a doctor's supervision alongside diet and physical activity.

The EDE presented the decision as part of its aim to build a faster regulatory system that still meets international standards on quality, safety and efficacy, and to give patients earlier access to new treatments for chronic diseases. It also urged residents to get regular screening for diabetes and keep up medical follow-up to reduce the risk of complications.

The EDE did not name the other countries that have approved the drug for diabetes. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Foundayo on April 1, 2026, for adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related medical problems. In August, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved it for both weight management and blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. The MHRA said it was the first regulator in Europe to do so, though the drug is not yet available through the NHS.

Lilly is betting heavily on orforglipron. As a pill, it is easier to make in large volumes and to distribute than injectable GLP-1 drugs such as its own tirzepatide. Uptake has been slow so far. Pharmaphorum reported that Foundayo's sales in the second quarter, which ended on June 30, were $98 million, below analysts' expectations.

The EDE did not say when the diabetes indication would reach pharmacies in the UAE, or whether insurers would cover it.