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) 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.

The FDA approved dosage schedule in the US for orforglipron (Foundayo) by Eli Lilly is:

• 0.8mg (starting dose)
• 2.5mg
• 5.5mg
• 9mg
• 14.5mg
• 17.2mg (maximum dose)

Guidelines for orforglipron state that the dose can be increased after 30 days.

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 proven to help patients lose weight and keep it off over 72 weeks.

Phase 3 trials

Results from phase 3 trials found that over 72 weeks, the highest 36mg orforglipron dose resulted in 11.2% average weight loss. Highlights of the trial include:

This is similar to an earlier press release that demonstrated effective results. People taking 36mg of orforglipron for 40 weeks lost an average 7.9% of their body weight, or 7.3kg. They also reduced their long-term blood sugar levels (HbA1c) by 1.5%.

Phase 2 trials

Results from earlier phase 2 studies involving a smaller number of people were also positive.

Weight loss results

After taking orforglipron for 26 weeks, participants lost an average of 8.6 to 12.6% of their body weight compared to just 2% in people who did not take orforglipron (the placebo group).

By week 36, this had increased to a loss of 9.4 to 14.7% compared to 2.3% in the placebo group.

Type 2 diabetes results

In a different phase 2 study, orforglipron was compared to another GLP-1 medication (dulaglutide) in people with type 2 diabetes. After 26 weeks, long-term blood sugar levels had dropped 2.1% in people taking orforglipron, 1.1% in people taking dulaglutide, and 0.4% in people taking a placebo. Average weight loss was 10.1kg with orforglipron, 3.9kg with dulaglutide, and 2.2kg for the placebo group.

Phase 1 trials

A phase 1 study tested orforglipron in people with type 2 diabetes. After 12 weeks, long-term blood sugar levels dropped 1.5 to 1.8% with orforglipron, whereas participants not taking it had blood sugar levels dropping by only 0.4%.

Participants taking the medication lost between 0.24 to 5.8kg compared to an average 0.5kg loss in participants who were on the placebo.

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 are most common, for example, participants in trials taking orforglipron mostly reported:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• swollen belly
• headache
• tiredness
• heartburn, gas, belching
• hair loss

Serious side effects reported were severe stomach problems and dehydration.

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, but it is not currently approved or available in the UK.

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

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:

In the US, the Foundayo dose is increased every 30 days. This is the same for the Wegovy pill.

Effectiveness of Wegovy pill vs orforglipron

Based on clinical trial data available, Wegovy Pill is more effective. The average overall weight loss on orforglipron based on ATTAIN trials is 11.2%, 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.

However, research is still ongoing, and only the Wegovy pill has been approved in the UK.

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.

As of April 2026, Orforglipron has received approval from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a weight loss and/or diabetes treatment. It has since been submitted to over 40 countries and Eli Lilly aim to launch the treatment shortly after, if approved.

Even though it has been approved by the FDA, Eli Lilly will need to submit a proposal along with evidence to the MHRA for it to be approved in the UK. Even if this happens, it will then be up to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to decide if it can be prescribed on the NHS. We cannot predict or know when this will happen just yet.

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. Since April 2026, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration US) recently approved Foundayo (orforglipron) to treat weight loss in the US.

Can you buy orforglipron tablets online?

Orforglipron tablets are not currently available, approved or licensed to be sold in the UK, including via online providers. If a UK provider is selling orforglipron to buy online it is not legal and potentially unsafe. Be careful when purchasing medicines online, you should always check your UK healthcare providers are regulated before proceeding.

What price will orforglipron GLP-1 tablets have?

Orforglipron is not available to be sold in the UK yet as it has not been licensed or approved by the UK health regulation bodies. Therefore, the price of orforglipron is still uncertain. In the US, orgorglipron (Foundayo) is set to be sold within the ranges of $149 and $349 per month.