Orforglipron (Foundayo): Everything you need to know

Orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that has been developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly – the same company that makes the GLP-1 weight loss injection Mounjaro. Since April 2026, it has been approved by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and by the MHRA in the UK since August 2026, as a treatment for weight loss (with or without diabetes) under the brand name Foundayo. It is an oral medication alternative to weekly weight loss injections.

Orforglipron works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, a natural hormone that controls hunger, digestion, and blood sugar levels. After taking orforglipron, the body thinks GLP-1 levels are high, and responds by:

• reducing how hungry you feel
• slowing down digestion
• lowering blood sugar levels

By improving blood sugar control, orforglipron can be an effective treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. It’s also a useful medication to support weight loss as it slows down how quickly your stomach empties while also reducing hunger cues sent from the brain – helping you to eat less and feel fuller for longer.

Orforglipron (Foundayo) can be taken any time of day, once a day, without any food and water restrictions. This allows for more flexibility during weight loss treatment compared to other GLP-1 treatments. You should swallow the tablet whole, with water if needed, but do not crush, break, or chew it. You must not take any more than 1 tablet per day.

You’ll start on a low dose, and if your body responds well, you can increase the dose every 30 days until you reach the maximum dose or the dose that works best for you. However, you should avoid increasing your dose unless your doctor has told you to. Although orforglipron can help with weight loss, it’s only effective when combined with increased exercise and a balanced, reduced-calorie diet. So, you will need to make some lifestyle changes to achieve the full benefit of orforglipron.

Orforglipron (Foundayo) is available in 6 doses. They are:

• Starting dose – 0.8mg
• Month 2 – 2.5mg
• Month 3 – 5.5mg
• Month 4 – 9mg
• Month 5 – 14.5mg
• Maximum dose – 17.2mg

When you start orforglipron, you will begin with the lowest 0.8mg dose. This will allow your body time to adjust to orforglipron and minimise the chance of side effects. If your body has responded well to this dose, you will be able to increase the dose after 30 days to 2.5mg. Your doctor will monitor your response, and you will be able to increase your dose after at least 30 days at each dose, until you reach the maximum 17.2mg daily dose.

Orforglipron has been tested under the ATTAIN clinical trial program, for which thousands of people have taken orforglipron to see how effective it is for type 2 diabetes and obesity and to monitor side effects. It has since been shown to help people lose 12.4% of their starting body weight at the maximum dose over 72 weeks.

How much weight can I lose with orforglipron?

Alongside an average weight loss of 12.4% over 72 weeks, the maximum orforglipron dose also resulted in:

Type 2 diabetes results

In the ATTAIN-2 clinical trial that studied 1613 overweight or obese adults with diabetes, after 72 weeks, long-term blood sugar levels (HbA1c) fell by 1.8%, and 85.1% of people achieved an HbA1c of less than 7% with the maximum orforglipron dose.

Data from clinical trials suggest that orforglipron could be an easy-to-use, effective treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Blood sugar (glucose) stabilisation

Orforglipron works in 2 ways to improve blood sugar levels:

1. Increases insulin secretion – the hormone that lowers blood sugar levels.
2. Decreases glucagon secretion – the hormone that raises blood sugar levels.

This makes it an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, where insulin is not working effectively and blood sugar levels are too high.

Weight loss support

Several studies have demonstrated that the GLP-1 pill helps people lose weight, with 1 study finding that 46 to 75% of people taking the medication lost at least 10% of their body weight in 36 weeks. The medication does this by making people feel fuller for longer, making it easier to eat less and lose weight.

Ease of use

As it’s taken as a tablet, Foundayo (orforglipron) is a possibly easier option compared to many other injectable GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide. There is no need to inject yourself or to order needles and dispose of them. To take orforglipron, you need to swallow a tablet every day without any food or water intake restrictions.

Most side effects listed in clinical trials were mild and were similar to those found with licensed GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Nevolat, Ozempic, and Mounjaro. Gastrointestinal side effects were reported in 68.7% of people given the maximum orforglipron dose compared to 36.3% given a placebo. These effects were mild in 61.8% of cases and moderate in 34.3% of people. However, between 5.3 and 10.3% of people stopped taking orforglipron because of the side effects they experienced.

The most common orforglipron side effects are:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• indigestion
• stomach pain

Side effects were most common at the beginning of treatment or after each dose increase, but usually improve once your body gets used to orforglipron. Serious side effects reported include acute pancreatitis, severe stomach problems, vision changes, serious allergic reactions, severe constipation, and dehydration.

Who cannot take orforglipron?

Orforglipron is not suitable for everyone, and a doctor will need to assess whether it is safe for you to take, as there are some medical conditions and medications that can make it unsuitable or potentially unsafe. You must not take orforglipron if you are:

• under 18
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• allergic to orforglipron
• not obese or overweight with weight-related health conditions

Orforglipron vs alternative weight loss treatments

Specific clinical research comparing orforglipron is still limited, but here is an overview of studies currently available which measure the effectiveness of orforglipron, tirzepatide (Mounjaro), and semaglutide (Wegovy):

*It’s important to note that the other medications were taken for more than twice as long as orforglipron and needed to be injected. So, this research shows that it can be an effective treatment.

Orforglipron (Foundayo) vs Wegovy pill

Novo Nordisk’s recently approved Wegovy tablet (‘Wegovy pill’) is a once-daily tablet for oral use that is available and approved for use in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2025. The Wegovy pill has also been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK and has been available for weight management since June 2026, making it the first GLP-1 weight loss pill approved for weight loss in the UK. In comparison, the recently FDA-approved orforglipron, also known as Foundayo, developed by Eli Lilly, is also a once-daily tablet that is available in the US and has also been recently approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. The UK was the first country in Europe to approve Foundayo, the first non-peptide GLP-1 daily weight loss tablet.

What’s the difference between how you take orforglipron and the Wegovy pill?

The main difference in how you take the Wegovy pill and orforglipron (Foundayo) is that you must take the Wegovy pill on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before any food, drink, or other oral medication, and with no more than 120ml of plain water, while with orforglipron, there are no restrictions on eating and drinking or the time it should be taken.

Dosage difference: Orforglipron vs Wegovy pill

Here is an overview of the dose differences between orforglipron and the Wegovy pill:

The Foundayo dose is increased every 30 days. This is the same for the Wegovy pill.

Effectiveness of orforglipron vs Wegovy pill

Based on clinical trial data available, Wegovy Pill is more effective. The average overall weight loss on orforglipron based on ATTAIN trials is 12.4%, whereas based on the OASIS 4 trials for oral semaglutide, the average weight loss for the Wegovy pill was 17% over 64 weeks.

Both treatments have different qualities which may make them effective for patients based on personal needs and preferences. For example, orforglipron is a more flexible medication, as you can take it without food or drink restrictions.

Here is an overview comparison table on the effectiveness of Wegovy pill and orforglipron based on clinical trial information available:

Orforglipron vs alternative type 2 diabetes treatments

Orforglipron is effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and may be able to improve blood glucose regulation in a similar way to other GLP-1 medications without the need for injections. While further research is needed, here are the current results comparing orforglipron with current approved type 2 diabetes injections:

➤ For more information and comparisons on weight loss and type 2 diabetes medication containing GLP-1 receptor agonists, read our comparison page on Wegovy vs Mounjaro vs Ozempic.

Who is eligible for orforglipron for weight loss?

To be eligible for orforglipron (Foundayo) in the UK, you will need to be aged 18 or over and have a body mass index (BMI) of:

• 30 or more
• 27 to 30 and at least one weight-related health condition, such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood fat levels, or obstructive sleep apnoea

If you’re not sure if you qualify for orforglipron, use our BMI calculator tool to find out.

Has orforglipron been approved in the UK?

Yes, orforglipron has been approved in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 10 August 2026 and is available to request from private healthcare providers.

Is orforglipron the tablet form of Mounjaro?

No. Orforglipron is not the tablet form of Mounjaro (tirzepatide). The only similarity between the two is that they are both designed for weight loss and developed by Eli Lilly. Orforglipron works on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors to help you lose weight, in comparison Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works on glucose-dependent insulinotropic (GIP) and GLP-1 receptors.

What's the new Eli Lilly weight loss pill?

Foundayo is the new weight loss pill developed by Eli Lilly, which contains the active ingredient orforglipron. It is a non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it is stable in the harsh stomach environment, so it does not require any special coatings to enhance its absorption. This means it can be taken with or without food or water and offers a more flexible dosing regimen. Foundayo was approved by the MHRA on 10 August 2026 for weight loss and type 2 diabetes.

Can you buy orforglipron tablets online?

Yes, orforglipron is now available to buy online from trusted online doctor services, such as Asda Online Doctor, under the brand name Foundayo. You will need to complete a short online medical questionnaire and submit 2 photos for one of our doctors to review confidentially to ensure Foundayo is safe and suitable for you.

What price will orforglipron GLP-1 tablets have?

The price of Foundayo (orforglipron) at Asda Online Doctor starts from £87.97.