Foundayo (Orforglipron) GLP-1 Weight Loss Tablets

• Foundayo is not currently licensed in the UK but may be available in late 2026 or 2027 subject to approval.
• The following is information from clinical trials.
• Contains orforglipron, a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

What is Foundayo?

Foundayo is a prescription-only weight loss tablet manufactured by Eli Lilly. It contains orforglipron and belongs to the same class of medicines as Mounjaro and Wegovy, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medicines work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate appetite and food intake.

What makes Foundayo different is that it's a once-daily tablet, not an injection. It's a small-molecule, non-peptide medicine, which means your body absorbs it easily. In clinical trials it could be taken with or without food

It's already been approved in the US, and it's expected to arrive in the UK in late 2026 or 2027, subject to approval from the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Is Foundayo the same as orforglipron?

Yes, they’re the same. Orforglipron is the active ingredient and Foundayo is the brand name. It’s the same way that tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro, and semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy.

If orforglipron sounds more familiar, that's because the medicine was known only by its active ingredient for a long time. The brand name Foundayo was only recently confirmed, so a lot of coverage and research still refers to it as orforglipron.

 

When will Foundayo be available in the UK?

Foundayo hasn't been approved by the MHRA and isn't available in the UK yet. Based on current timelines:

• Private UK availability: Possibly late 2026 or into 2027 if MHRA approval is granted.
• NHS availability: Potentially 2027 or 2028, as a separate National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) assessment would be required after MHRA approval.

The Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) may be subject to MHRA approval around late 2026.

If you see any UK website claiming to sell Foundayo right now, don't buy it. It isn't licensed here, which means any product being sold online is unregulated and likely unsafe.

This medicine isn’t currently licensed in the UK. For safe and licensed weight loss treatments like Mounjaro injections, also made by Eli Lilly, you can place a consultation with our prescribers here.

Is Foundayo safe?

Foundayo has been studied in a large clinical programme involving more than 11,000 patients across several Phase 3 trials. Throughout, it's shown a consistent safety profile.

In the ACHIEVE-4 study, researchers specifically looked at heart health outcomes. The results showed that Foundayo’s risk of major cardiovascular events was similar to insulin glargine, a widely used long-acting insulin for type 2 diabetes.

The study also carefully monitored liver safety, with no new safety concerns identified.

Overall, the findings suggest that Foundayo is generally well-tolerated when used as prescribed and monitored by a healthcare professional. Like all prescription medicines, it may not be suitable for everyone, and if the tablets do become available in the UK, your prescriber will help decide if it’s the right option for you.

 

How do Foundayo weight loss pills work?

Foundayo works by mimicking a natural hormone called GLP-1, which your body releases after eating. It acts on areas of the brain involved in appetite control, in addition to affecting the digestive system. By doing this, it can help:

• reduce appetite
• increase feelings of fullness after meals
• slow how quickly the stomach empties, keeping you satisfied for longer

Most GLP-1 medicines are peptide-based, meaning the digestive system breaks them down before they can work, which is why most need to be injected. An existing type 2 diabetes tablet, Rybelsus, requires you to fast to ensure it’s absorbed properly.

Orforglipron is different. It's a small molecule, designed to survive digestion and be absorbed through the gut, so in studies it could be taken with or without food or drink.

 

How effective is Foundayo for weight loss in clinical trials?

Foundayo was tested in a large Phase 3 trial called ATTAIN-1, involving over 4,500 adults over 72 weeks. Here's what the results showed at the highest approved dose:

Foundayo dose	Approx. average weight loss
Placebo	2%
5.5mg	7.5%
9mg	8%
17.2mg (highest dose)	11%

Some participants started losing weight within the first month, with the most significant changes happening in the first nine months. The trial also showed improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and waist circumference.

However, Foundayo does seem to produce less weight loss than weight loss injections: Mounjaro achieves around 22.5% and Wegovy around 21%. But for many people, the convenience of a daily pill (no needles, no refrigeration, and no food restrictions) makes it worthwhile.

 

Key information from clinical trials

• Foundayo was taken once daily and not administered via injection.
• It was taken any time of day, with or without food.
• The medicine could be kept at room temperature.
• Demonstrated 11% average weight loss over 72 weeks in the clinical trial.

Foundayo eligibility

Although the UK eligibility criteria hasn’t been set yet, it’s likely to follow a similar framework to the existing US criteria or that of other GLP-1 medicines when it does arrive.

 

Cost of Foundayo

It isn't possible to determine a UK price for Foundayo yet, as it hasn't been approved by the MHRA. Even once it is, the final cost will depend on a number of factors, including market availability and the price set by Eli Lilly.

 

How to take Foundayo pill

The following directions are based on current US prescribing information for research purposes. Foundayo isn't yet licensed in the UK, and dosage guidance may be subject to change when it is:

• Take one tablet once daily, with or without food.
• Swallow whole: don't break, crush, or chew it.
• Always take it alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

What to do if you miss a dose

Information from the manufacturer in the US states that if you miss a dose of Foundayo, take it as soon as you remember. Never take more than one tablet in a day. If you miss seven or more days in a row, speak to your prescriber before restarting, as they may need to adjust your dose.

 

Weight loss pills: information from clinical trials

	Foundayo	Wegovy tablets	Rybelsus	Orlistat (Alli, Orlos, Xenical)	Mysimba
Active ingredient	Orforglipron	Semaglutide	Semaglutide	Orlistat	Naltrexone and bupropion
Manufacturer	Eli Lilly	Novo Nordisk	Novo Nordisk	Haleon, Crescent Pharma, Roche	Orexigen Therapeutics
Weight loss shown in clinical trials	Avg. 11% weight loss	Avg. 14% weight loss	In six months, people lost an avg. of 8 pounds (3.6kg)	Approx. 5-10% weight loss	Approx. 5-10% weight loss

 

Foundayo (orforglipron) side effects

The most commonly reported side effects in the ACHIEVE-4 study were:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• indigestion

When to seek medical assistance

 

How to store Foundayo

During clinical trials, it was recommended to store Foundayo at room temperature (20–25°C). Keep it in its original bottle and carton to protect it from light, and always replace the cap after use. Keep out of sight and reach of children.

 

Frequently asked questions about Foundayo

Is orforglipron available in the UK?

Orforglipron isn't available in the UK yet as it hasn't been approved by the MHRA, though it has recently been approved in the US.

Once it is, private availability could follow in late 2026 or into 2027, though NHS access isn't expected before 2027 at the earliest, and 2028 is more realistic given that a separate NICE assessment would also be required.

Is Foundayo a GLP-1?

Yes, Foundayo is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. What makes it unique is that it's a small-molecule, non-peptide GLP-1, which is why it can be taken as a standard tablet without fasting, unlike peptide-based options like Rybelsus.

 

Sources

• Foundayo. Eli Lilly and Company. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Foundayo: All You Need to Know About the Newly Approved Weight-Loss Pill. (2026). The Independent. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• FDA Approves Lilly's Foundayo (Orforglipron). (2026). PR Newswire. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Lilly Publishes Data Confirming Foundayo's Safety Profile. (2026). DDW Online. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• ACHIEVE-4: Longest Phase 3 Study of Lilly's Foundayo (Orforglipron). (2026). Eli Lilly and Company Investor Relations. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. (2022). New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Once-Weekly Semaglutide 7.2mg in Adults With Obesity (STEP UP). (2025). PubMed. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Foundayo Prescribing Information. (2026). Eli Lilly and Company. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• What is the Approved Dosing for Foundayo (Orforglipron) for Weight Management? (2026). Lilly Medical. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program. (2026). FDA. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Is Wegovy Pill Right For Me? [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. (2025). New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 24th April 2026].
• Rybelsus Results. Rybelsus. [Accessed 24th April 2026].