Foundayo pills (orforglipron)

What is Foundayo (orforglipron)?

Manufactured by Eli Lilly, Foundayo is a prescription-only weight loss tablet. Its active ingredient, orforglipron, works in the same way as semaglutide (Wegovy) as a GLP-1 receptor agonist which, based on studies, may reduce appetite while keeping patients fuller for longer.

The main difference is that Foundayo isn’t an injection. Instead, like Wegovy pills, it’s a daily tablet. However, unlike Wegovy pills, in trials it could be taken with or without food, at any time of the day.

How does Foundayo work?

During clinical trials, Foundayo was shown to support weight loss by:

• reducing appetite
• making patients feel fuller for longer
• making it easier to manage cravings and portion control

Mechanism of action

The orforglipron in Foundayo is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist, which means it mimics the hormones your body naturally produces when you eat. By doing this, orforglipron may:

• send signals to your brain telling you you’re full, even if you’ve eaten less
• slow down how quickly food is digested
• regulate your blood sugar

The combination of these processes is how Foundayo helped support weight loss during clinical trials.

Foundayo works as a tablet, rather than an injection, because orforglipron is a small molecule drug that can easily be absorbed through the gut. This means in trials it could be taken with or without food, at any time of the day.

During clinical trials, this was one of the main differences between Foundayo and Wegovy pills, which need to be taken on an empty stomach.

How to take Foundayo (orforglipron) tablets

Foundayo is a once-daily tablet which must be swallowed whole with or without food or drink.

It’s recommended that people take Foundayo at the same time every day to maintain a consistent level of medication in the body.

Foundayo dosing schedule

Patients usually start on a 0.8 mg dose for 30 days before gradually increasing their dose every 30 days. By gradually increasing the dose, your body has time to adjust to the medication, helping minimise side effects.

However, like with other GLP-1 weight loss treatments, you don’t have to increase your dose if you don’t want to. If you’re happy with your weight loss, or dealing with side effects, you can stay on your current dose for as long as you need to.

Below is an example Foundayo dosage schedule, based on clinical trials data:

Foundayo weight loss reported in clinical trials

Those taking Foundayo’s highest dose saw an average weight loss of 11%, with patients who completed the 72-week course achieving 12.4%. The average weight loss by dose from the studies is broken down as:

Foundayo vs other weight loss medication

Overview

Important: The weight loss figures shown are from separate clinical trials. They should not be interpreted as direct comparison, as individual results may vary. A member of our prescribing team will review which option is most appropriate for you.

Foundayo vs Wegovy tablets

While Foundayo’s studies showed an average of 12.4% weight loss across 72 weeks, the Wegovy tablet has seen an average weight loss of 17% (and 22% in early responders who lost at least 10% by week 16).

However, Wegovy tablets need to be taken on an empty stomach. It’s recommended you take it first thing in the morning before eating. In contrast, Foundayo can be taken with or without food. It’s important to note individual results may vary, and a member of our prescribing team will help determine which treatment may be most appropriate for you.

Foundayo vs Wegovy injections

Foundayo’s studies showed an average of 12.4% weight loss across 72 weeks, while injecting Wegovy (semaglutide) saw an average weight loss of 21% in similar studies.

Foundayo vs Mounjaro

As discussed, Foundayo’s studies showed an average of 12.4% weight loss across 72 weeks. Injectable Mounjaro (tirzepatide), on the other hand, may help patients lose an average of 22.5% of their body weight.

Are there any side effects of Foundayo?

According to the ACHIEVE-4 clinical trial, possible Foundayo side effects include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• indigestion
• stomach pain
• headaches
• swollen stomach
• tiredness
• heartburn
• hair loss

When will Foundayo tablets be available in the UK?

While Foundayo isn’t currently available in the UK, it has recently been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and could be available privately in late 2026.

In terms of NHS prescriptions, the NHS have a separate approval system, meaning a release date for NHS patients has not been confirmed

How much will Foundayo cost?

There’s no way of knowing what it will cost in the UK. It will depend on the price set by the manufacturer Eli Lilly, as well as the pharmacy you choose to buy it from, alongside the dose strength. Typically, the higher the dose, the more expensive the medication.

It will also require a valid prescription, such as one from our prescribing team if approved.

Why choose myBMI for your weight loss journey?

At myBMI, we believe that successful weight loss is about more than simply accessing treatment. From a quick and convenient consultation to ongoing expert support, we’re with you at every stage of your journey. We’re also giving you access to a welcoming community, educational resources, an app to help you stay on track, and unlimited free side effect treatments upon request.

The process, step-by-step

1. Answer a few questions: Complete a quick online consultation and our clinicians will assess whether treatment is safe and suitable for you. If it is, we'll recommend the option that best fits your needs and goals.
2. Delivered to your door for free: Once approved, we’ll deliver your treatment swiftly, discreetly, and free of charge. We've made getting started as simple and convenient as possible.
3. Ongoing guidance and support: Starting treatment is just the beginning. Alongside your medication, you'll have access to ongoing clinical support, expert guidance, and free side effects treatments to help you stay healthy and comfortable at every step of your journey.

Whether you need help staying motivated, building healthier habits, or managing side effects, you’ll have all the support necessary to work towards lasting results with confidence and peace of mind.

Summary of Foundayo (orforglipron) tablets

“Foundayo may provide patients with another option on their weight loss journey, potentially expanding the reach of these medications.

“It could be appropriate for people who don’t want to, or can’t, take injections each week, or find it harder to fit the empty stomach requirements of Wegovy pills into their daily routines. Its important to note, as with all treatments, everyone responds differently, and a member of our prescribing team will help guide you through your treatment journey.

“However, it’s important to note that the treatment still needs to go through the official approval process before it is available to request in the UK.”

Ayesha Bashir, Prescribing Pharmacist at myBMI

Sources

• What is Foundayo™ (orforglipron). Eli Lilly. [Accessed 23 June 2026]
• Liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity. (2020) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Oral GLP-1 Analogues. (2024) NHS. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• ACHIEVE-4, the longest Phase 3 study of Lilly's Foundayo (orforglipron) to date, reaffirmed its cardiovascular and overall safety profile as well as consistent improvements across key measures of cardiometabolic health. (2026) Lilly Investors. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. (2025) The New England Journal of Medicine [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Wegovy Pill Trial Findings. (2026) Wegovy, [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Wegovy Pen Results. (2026) Wegovy. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program. (2026) FDA. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• How to take Foundayo. (2026) Lilly. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Needle phobia and overcoming your fear. (2024) NHS. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Prevalence of use and interest in using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss: a population study in Great Britain. (2026) BMC Medicine. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide 7.2 mg in Obesity: The STEP UP Trial. (2025) Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. (2022) Journal of the American Medical Association. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Early Responders to Oral Semaglutide 25mg: A Post Hoc Analysis of the OASIS 4 Trial. (2026) Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. (2025) New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 23 June 2026].
• UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes - GOV.UK (2026) MHRA. [Accessed 10 August 2026]
• Orforglipron, an Oral Small-Molecule GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Obesity Treatment (2025) New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 13 August 2026]