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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 early June.

The orforglipron tablet sees patients lose around 11.2 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks on the medication.

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 have approved orforglipron.

And its arrival marks yet another breakthrough for the drugs, known as GLP-1s, which are now believed to be taken 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 but with a weight-related health condition, will also be able to access it.

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

It 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 access it.

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, MHRA 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.'

Orforglipron was approved for use in the US earlier this year, and its arrival in Britain has been eagerly awaited.

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

This is a breaking news story and is being updated. More to follow.