Foundayo

Foundayo (orforglipron) is a prescription-only GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Eli Lilly, taken as a once-daily tablet rather than an injection. It belongs to the same class of medicines as Mounjaro and Wegovy, and works by reducing appetite and helping you feel fuller for longer, to support weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Foundayo was authorised by the MHRA on 10 August 2026 for weight management and type 2 diabetes. It is not available in the UK yet.

Yes. Orforglipron is the active ingredient and Foundayo is the brand name, in the same way tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy. Because the brand name was only recently confirmed, a lot of existing coverage still refers to the medicine as orforglipron.

Foundayo mimics GLP-1, a hormone your body releases naturally after eating. It acts on appetite-regulating areas of the brain and slows how quickly the stomach empties, which can:

• reduce appetite
• increase feelings of fullness after meals
• keep you satisfied for longer

Most GLP-1 medicines are peptide-based and broken down by digestion, which is why they're usually injected, and why oral options like Rybelsus need to be taken fasted. Orforglipron is a small, non-peptide molecule designed to survive digestion, so in trials it was taken at any time of day, with or without food.

Foundayo is authorised for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27–30 with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, PCOS or sleep apnoea, and to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

In the UK, NICE sets NHS eligibility for GLP-1 weight loss treatments and typically applies a higher BMI threshold than other markets. Until NICE reviews Foundayo, UK NHS eligibility criteria aren't confirmed, and private prescribers may apply their own criteria to assess suitability.

Foundayo is started at a low dose and increased gradually based on response and tolerability, with a minimum of 30 days at each strength:

1. 0.8mg
2. 2.5mg
3. 5.5mg
4. 9mg
5. 14.5mg
6. 17.2mg (maximum approved dose)

Not everyone needs to reach the top dose, the aim is the lowest dose that works for you. Some people get good results at 5.5mg or 9mg and stay there, while others come off higher strengths if side effects outweigh the benefit.

In ATTAIN-1, a Phase 3 trial of over 3,100 adults with obesity or overweight (without diabetes) across nine countries, followed over 72 weeks:

These figures include everyone who started the trial, whether or not they completed it. Among people who stayed on the highest dose for the full 72 weeks, average weight loss rose to 12.4%, and almost half lost at least 10% of their starting body weight. The trial also showed reductions in waist size, cholesterol, blood fats and blood pressure.

Foundayo does appear to produce less weight loss overall than weight loss injections: Mounjaro achieves around 22.5% and Wegovy injection around 21%. For many people though, the convenience of a daily pill (no needles, no refrigeration, no food restrictions) makes it a worthwhile trade-off.

Yes. In the ACHIEVE-4 study, at 52 weeks, average HbA1c fell by 1.6% on Foundayo compared with 1.0% on insulin glargine, a statistically significant difference. This reflects the type 2 diabetes population studied in ACHIEVE-4 against insulin glargine as the comparator, not a placebo-controlled result. The same study also looked specifically at cardiovascular outcomes, showing a risk of major cardiovascular events similar to insulin glargine, with no new liver safety concerns identified.

Both are once-daily oral GLP-1 medicines, but they work differently. Until Foundayo, every GLP-1 medicine was a peptide, and peptides break down in the stomach. Oral Wegovy gets around this using an absorption enhancer called SNAC, but even with SNAC and strict fasting rules (an empty stomach, no more than 120ml of water, and a wait of at least 30 minutes before food, drink or other medication), the body only absorbs around 1% of each dose.

Foundayo is a small, non-peptide molecule that the gut can absorb directly, with no enhancer and no fasting rules needed, which is why the body absorbs roughly 79% of each dose.

On weight loss, Foundayo's highest trial dose (36mg) produced an average 11.1% weight loss over 72 weeks in ATTAIN-1, compared with around 14% over 64 weeks for oral Wegovy's highest dose in the OASIS 4 trial. The two trials used different populations, doses and durations though, so these aren't a like-for-like head-to-head, they're separate studies. Both are tablets stored at room temperature, so neither needs refrigeration or needles, the practical difference is that Foundayo doesn't require fasting or timed dosing around meals.

Foundayo's MHRA authorisation was based on Eli Lilly's Phase 3 programme, involving more than 11,000 patients, including:

• ATTAIN-1, in adults with obesity or overweight
• ACHIEVE-4, in adults with type 2 diabetes, which also assessed cardiovascular and liver safety

You can read the MHRA's own authorisation announcement here.

Foundayo's side effects mainly affect the gut, as a direct result of how GLP-1 medicines work. Increasing the dose gradually helps limit their impact. In ATTAIN-1, 3.5–7% of people on higher doses stopped treatment because of stomach-related side effects, compared with around 0.4% on placebo. If you notice anything unexpected, report it to our clinical team or through the Yellow Card scheme. A full safety profile will be available once the Patient Information Leaflet is published.

Nausea is the most common, and tends to be at its worst during the first four to eight weeks of treatment and after each dose increase. Other common side effects include stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, vomiting, headache and tiredness. Some people also notice heartburn, indigestion, belching or hair loss. These are usually mild to moderate and tend to ease as your body adjusts.

Serious side effects are uncommon but need urgent attention. Stop taking Foundayo and seek urgent medical help if you notice:

• Pancreatitis
• Severe stomach problems
• Dehydration or kidney problems
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• Serious allergic reaction
• Gallbladder problems
• Vision changes

Foundayo isn't suitable for everyone. You should not take it if you or a close family member has a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer), or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). It's also not suitable if you have severe liver impairment or a known serious allergy to orforglipron or any of its ingredients.

Tell your prescriber before starting if you have a history of pancreatitis, kidney problems, delayed stomach emptying, diabetes-related eye disease, or an upcoming surgery.

Foundayo may harm an unborn baby, so reliable contraception is recommended during treatment (see drug interactions below for important information about oral contraceptives). Foundayo isn't recommended while breastfeeding.

Not currently. NHS availability will depend on approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and local NHS prescribing guidance, and isn't expected before 2027 at the earliest.

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

Missed a dose? Take it as soon as you remember, but never take more than one tablet a day. If you miss seven or more days in a row, speak to your prescriber before restarting, as your dose may need adjusting.

Store at room temperature (20–25°C), in its original bottle and carton to protect it from light, with the cap replaced after use. Keep out of sight and reach of children.