First Daily Oral Weight Loss Drug Approved in Saudi Arabia

Foundaio, the first once-daily oral medication approved in Saudi Arabia for long-term weight loss, has received registration from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

The medication is intended to be used alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Foundaio contains the active ingredient orforglipron, which targets glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors to help regulate appetite and blood sugar levels, reducing food intake and supporting sustained weight loss.

According to the SFDA, the approval followed a comprehensive assessment of the drug's safety, efficacy and quality, supported by two Phase 3 clinical trials conducted over 72 weeks. The first study involved 3,127 adults with obesity who did not have diabetes, with participants receiving the highest evaluated 36 mg dose recording an average body weight reduction of 11.2%, compared with 2.1% in the placebo group. A second trial involving 1,613 adults with obesity and Type 2 diabetes found average weight loss of 9.6% among those receiving the 36 mg dose, compared with 2.5% for placebo.