The orforglipron (Foundayo) pill has been approved by the MHRA for weight management and type 2 diabetes in the UK. It is a once-daily tablet that you can take at any time of day, with or without food and without water restrictions.
At 72 weeks, average weight loss at the highest dose was about 11% [1]
Manufactured by Eli Lilly
Medically reviewed by Danny Gian Hou Chu, HCPC-Registered Physician Associate (PA38670).
The New Once-Daily Weight Loss Pill
What Is Foundayo (Orforglipron)?
Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, a new once-daily oral pill for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Most GLP-1 weight-loss treatments are injectable, but this is a once-daily tablet.
It’s the UK’s second oral GLP-1 pill to be approved, after oral semaglutide, but the first with no fasting, timing, or water rules.
On 10 August 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved orforglipron, making the UK the first country in Europe where Foundayo is authorised.
Orforglipron is authorised for specific uses in adults, including weight management and blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. Whether it is appropriate for an individual depends on their medical history, current medicines and other clinical factors.
Important: Foundayo is a prescription medicine. It should only be used following an assessment by an appropriately qualified prescriber and in accordance with the authorised product information.
Orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Its active ingredient works like a natural hormone your body releases after eating. This hormone signals the brain to reduce appetite, helping you feel fuller for longer. That’s how it can support weight loss as part of a treatment plan that includes a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
In people with type 2 diabetes, it also helps manage blood sugar levels.
For weight management, orforglipron is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity rather than as a standalone treatment.
You may qualify for this weight loss treatment if you have:
A body weight giving a BMI of 30 or above, or
BMI of 27 kg/m² to less than 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as high blood pressure
Orforglipron is also authorised for use in adults with type 2 diabetes as part of blood glucose management.
Take this oral medication once daily, at any time.
No food or water restrictions, so it can be taken on a full or empty stomach.
The starting dose is 0.8 mg.
The dose increase happens gradually: 0.8 mg → 2.5 mg → 5.5 mg → 9 mg → 14.5 mg → 17.2 mg (maximum).
There is at least a 30-day interval at each dose before increasing, if appropriate.
Not everyone needs to reach the highest dose. Your healthcare provider may keep you at a lower dose if it’s working well for you.
Always follow the guidance in your Patient Information Leaflet.
How Does It Compare to Other Treatments?
Foundayo joins a growing group of GLP-1 medicines used to lose weight and maintain results over the long term.
Its main difference from other treatments, including the injectable treatment options and the semaglutide pill, is the lack of dosing restrictions.
No fasting, no timing rules, no water requirements.
Possible Side Effects of the Foundayo Weight Loss Pill
Like other GLP-1 medicines, orforglipron can cause side effects. These are more likely
during the early stages of treatment and when the dose is increased.
- 0.8 mg
- 2.5 mg
- 5.5 mg
- 9 mg
- 14.5 mg
- 17.2 mg
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Stomach pain
Many gastrointestinal side effects are often temporary and tend to ease as your body settles into the treatment.
Important Safety Information
Orforglipron can also cause less common but potentially serious adverse effects. These include:
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Gallbladder problems
- Dehydration
- Kidney problems
- Low blood sugar can also occur, particularly when orforglipron is taken with certain diabetes medicines.
Orforglipron also carries a warning about thyroid C-cell tumours based on findings in animal studies. It is not known whether this risk applies to humans.
Seek urgent medical help if you develop symptoms of a serious allergic reaction or severe, persistent abdominal pain.
If you experience side effects or are concerned about your treatment, speak to your medical care team.
What Does the Research Show About Orforglipron?
Clinical trials have investigated orforglipron for both weight management and type 2 diabetes. Results show that once-daily orforglipron can support weight loss and improve blood glucose control when used alongside appropriate diet and physical activity.
ATTAIN-1 Clinical Trial Results
The phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial [1] included more than 3,000 adults with obesity without diabetes. Participants took once-daily orforglipron or placebo alongside changes to diet and physical activity for 72 weeks.
Average weight change at 72 weeks was:
Trial dose | Average Weight Loss |
6 mg | ~7.5% |
12 mg | ~8.4% |
36 mg (highest dose) | ~11.2% |
Placebo | ~2.1% |
At the highest trial dose, more than half of participants (54.6%) lost at least 10% of their body weight. Around one-third (36.0%) lost at least 15%, while 18.4% lost at least 20%. With placebo, the corresponding figures were 12.9%, 5.9% and 2.8%.
Important: The doses used in ATTAIN-1 were clinical-trial doses and should not be confused with the authorised Foundayo dosing schedule. Your healthcare provider will determine your prescribed dose.
ACHIEVE-3: Orforglipron and Type 2 Diabetes
In the phase 3 ACHIEVE-3 trial, 1,698 adults with type 2 diabetes took once-daily orforglipron or oral semaglutide for 52 weeks.
Average change in blood sugar (HbA1c):
Treatment | HbA1c reduction |
Orforglipron 12 mg | 1.71% |
Orforglipron 36 mg | 1.91% |
Oral semaglutide 7 mg | 1.23% |
Oral semaglutide 14 mg | 1.47% |
The results support the use of orforglipron to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes and provide evidence of its effect on body weight.
What do these results mean?
The trial results show that some people taking orforglipron achieved substantial weight loss over 72 weeks. However, individual results varied, and clinical trials cannot predict how much weight a particular person will lose.
Orforglipron is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity as part of a comprehensive weight-management plan.
What are the most common Foundayo side effects?
Like other GLP-1 receptor agonists, Foundayo side effects are most commonly gastrointestinal.
According to the UK Patient Information Leaflet, very common side effects include:
Nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting are most commonly experienced when starting orforglipron and tend to decrease over time for many people.
Other common side effects can include:
- bloating
- burping
- reflux or heartburn
- gas
- dizziness
- headache
- fatigue
- gallstones
- hair loss
- low blood pressure
Low blood sugar can also occur, particularly when Foundayo is used alongside certain diabetes medicines such as insulin or sulfonylureas.
Managing digestive side effects
Because nausea and other digestive symptoms can occur, it can help to pay attention to how and what you eat while your body adjusts.
Depending on your symptoms, practical steps may include eating smaller portions, eating slowly and maintaining adequate fluid intake.
Hydration is particularly important if vomiting or diarrhoea occurs, as these can lead to dehydration.
Your nutritional intake matters too. If appetite suppression means you are eating considerably less than before, prioritising protein, fibre and nutrient-rich foods can help support your overall nutrition.
If side effects are persistent, severe or difficult to manage, contact your clinical team rather than simply trying to push through them.
Are there serious side effects?
Serious side effects are less common, but it is important to know what requires medical attention.
The UK Patient Information Leaflet lists acute pancreatitis as an uncommon serious side effect. Symptoms can include severe, persistent pain in the stomach and back that does not go away. This requires immediate medical attention.
Other serious effects have been reported with this type of medicine, including bowel obstruction, severe constipation, serious allergic reactions and kidney problems associated with dehydration.
Sudden changes in vision or unusual visual symptoms should also be reported to your doctor.
Your prescriber should discuss relevant risks and precautions with you before treatment begins.
Who may need additional consideration before taking Foundayo?
Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine and requires an appropriate clinical assessment.
Before starting treatment, your healthcare professional needs to know about your medical history and any other medicines you take.
Particular care may be required if you:
- have or have previously had pancreatitis
- have severe digestive problems or delayed stomach emptying
- take insulin or a sulfonylurea
- take medicines for high blood pressure
- have gallbladder problems
- have diabetic eye disease
- have severe heart failure
- are due to have surgery under anaesthesia
Foundayo should not be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare professional.
Can Foundayo interact with other medicines?
Some medicines and supplements can affect enzymes involved in how orforglipron is processed by the body. This includes medicines that inhibit or induce the CYP3A4 enzyme pathway.
Examples can include certain antibiotics, antifungals, anticonvulsants, heart and blood pressure medicines, HIV medicines and some other prescription treatments. Supplements such as St John’s Wort may also be relevant.
This is why it is important to tell your prescriber about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments and supplements you take before starting Foundayo.
This is not a complete list of precautions, which is why clinical assessment is an essential part of prescribing.
What did the Foundayo clinical trials show?
The Phase 3 ATTAIN programme has studied orforglipron across different groups of adults with overweight or obesity.
In ATTAIN-1, more than 3,100 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, and without type 2 diabetes were studied for 72 weeks. At the highest dose studied, participants who remained on treatment experienced an average body weight reduction of approximately 12.4% at 72 weeks, compared with less than 1% with placebo.
There have not yet been any direct head-to-head clinical trials comparing orforglipron with oral semaglutide. However, the treatments have been studied separately in their respective Phase 3 programmes. In ATTAIN-1, orforglipron was associated with an average body weight reduction of approximately 12.4% at 72 weeks, while the OASIS 4 trial of oral semaglutide reported average reductions of approximately 13.6–14.0% at 64 weeks, depending on the analysis used.
Novo Nordisk has also released findings from ORION, an indirect treatment comparison using Phase 3 data from ATTAIN-1 and OASIS 4. The analysis reported a greater reduction in body weight with oral semaglutide 25 mg compared with orforglipron 36 mg. However, ORION was an indirect comparison rather than a head-to-head clinical trial, so the findings should be interpreted in that context.
Improvements were also seen in several cardiometabolic measures.
It is important to remember that results from separate trials cannot be directly compared as though the treatments were tested against one another, as trial populations, methods and study durations may differ. Clinical-trial averages also do not predict how much weight any individual person will lose.
Results vary, and treatment should always sit alongside appropriate nutrition, physical activity and ongoing clinical care.
Foundayo vs the Wegovy pill: how do they compare?
Both Foundayo and oral Wegovy are once-daily GLP-1 tablets for weight management, but they contain different active ingredients and have different dosing and administration requirements.
What about weight loss?
In OASIS 4, people taking the 25 mg Wegovy tablet experienced an estimated average body weight reduction of 13.6% after 64 weeks, compared with 2.2% with placebo. In an analysis assuming participants remained on treatment without additional weight-management interventions, the estimated reduction was 16.6%.
Clinical trials of orforglipron have also demonstrated clinically meaningful weight loss: an average loss of 27.3 lbs (12.4%) at the highest dose at 72 weeks.
These figures should not be treated as a direct comparison of the two medicines. Wegovy tablets and orforglipron were studied in separate clinical trials with different treatment periods, study designs and dosing. There has not been a head-to-head trial establishing that one tablet produces greater weight loss than the other.
Effectiveness is also only one consideration. Oral Wegovy contains semaglutide and has specific fasting, water and timing requirements, whereas Foundayo contains orforglipron and can be taken with or without food and without the same water restrictions.
The most appropriate option will depend on factors including your medical history, treatment goals, previous treatment, side effects, preferences and clinical assessment.
Can you switch from Wegovy or Mounjaro to Foundayo?
For some people already using weight management medication, moving to an oral treatment such as Foundayo may be an option. However, switching between treatments is not simply a case of exchanging one dose for another.
Foundayo contains orforglipron, Wegovy contains semaglutide and Mounjaro contains tirzepatide. These medicines have different dosing schedules and are not directly dose-equivalent.
Switching from Mounjaro to Foundayo
Clinical research has studied people transitioning from tirzepatide injections to orforglipron after achieving weight loss with injectable treatment.
In the Phase 3b ATTAIN-MAINTAIN study, participants who had previously received the highest tolerated dose of tirzepatide were transitioned to orforglipron as part of a structured weight-maintenance study.
This provides evidence that transitioning between the treatments can be considered, but it does not establish a dose-for-dose conversion that should be followed outside clinical care.
Switching from Wegovy injection to Foundayo
ATTAIN-MAINTAIN also studied people transitioning from the highest tolerated dose of injectable Wegovy to orforglipron.
After 52 weeks on orforglipron, participants maintained a substantial proportion of the weight they had previously lost with Wegovy.
As with Mounjaro, the appropriate transition will depend on factors including your current dose, treatment response, side effects and individual health.
Switching from the Wegovy pill to Foundayo
Oral Wegovy and Foundayo are both once-daily GLP-1 tablets, but they contain different active ingredients and are not directly interchangeable.
Oral Wegovy contains semaglutide, while Foundayo contains orforglipron. They also have different dosing schedules and administration requirements.
If you are considering moving from oral Wegovy to Foundayo, your prescriber will determine whether switching is appropriate and advise you on how to transition safely.
Switching should always be clinically guided
There is no simple dose-for-dose conversion between Foundayo, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Your prescriber will consider your current treatment, dose, response, tolerability, medical history and other medicines before recommending whether or how you should switch.
You should not stop, start or combine weight management medicines without advice from your prescriber.
What does Foundayo add to weight management treatment?
The arrival of another oral GLP-1 gives people and clinicians another potential treatment option.
For some people, avoiding injections may be important. For others, the flexibility of taking a tablet without fasting requirements may fit more easily into everyday life.
But the format of a medicine is only one consideration.
Treatment choice should also take account of effectiveness, side effects, other health conditions, medicines you already take and your ability to follow the treatment safely over time.
More options can be useful. They also make personalised clinical assessment more important, not less.
Where Envigore can support you
Envigore is following the introduction of Foundayo in the UK closely and will continue to share clinically reviewed information as availability and treatment pathways develop.
Our clinician-led weight management programmes already provide access to a range of treatment approaches where clinically appropriate, alongside ongoing support throughout the weight management journey.
If you are interested in Foundayo, you can register your interest to receive further information from Envigore as it becomes available.
Frequently asked questions
These questions reflect the guidance above and are reviewed by our clinical team before publication.
Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly. It was authorised by the MHRA in August 2026 for weight management in eligible adults and for the treatment of insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
Foundayo was authorised for use in the UK by the MHRA on 10 August 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve orforglipron. It is a prescription-only medicine and must be prescribed following an appropriate clinical assessment.
Orforglipron activates GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite regulation. It can help increase feelings of fullness, reduce hunger and decrease food cravings, which may help people consume less food alongside appropriate dietary and lifestyle measures.
The most commonly reported side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain. Digestive side effects are often more noticeable when treatment begins or the dose changes and may decrease over time for many people.
The UK-authorised strengths are 0.8 mg, 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg. Treatment begins at 0.8 mg once daily and is gradually increased, with at least 30 days at each dose level before escalation where appropriate.
No. Foundayo can be taken once daily at any time of day, with or without food and without specific water restrictions. This is one of the main practical differences between orforglipron and oral semaglutide.
No. Foundayo contains orforglipron, while Wegovy contains semaglutide. Both act on the GLP-1 receptor, but they are different medicines with different chemical structures, doses and administration requirements.
In the ATTAIN-1 Phase 3 trial, the highest dose of orforglipron was associated with an average body weight reduction of around 12.4% at 72 weeks among participants who remained on treatment. Individual results vary, and clinical-trial averages should not be interpreted as a guarantee of weight loss.
No. Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine and suitability depends on factors including BMI, health conditions, medical history, other medicines and individual treatment needs. A clinical assessment is required before treatment can be prescribed.
This article is for educational purposes only and provides general information about orforglipron (Foundayo). It is not intended to promote a prescription-only medicine and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Weight management treatment is subject to clinical assessment and prescribing approval. Always read the Patient Information Leaflet and follow the advice of your prescriber.
About Your Clinical Team
This content was medically reviewed and approved by Danny Gian Hou Chu, a HCPC-Registered Advance Paramedic Prescriber (PA38670), who oversees all prescribing decisions at Envigore.
All prescriptions are dispensed by Right Medicine Pharmacy, a GPhC-Registered Pharmacy (No. 9012382).
Nutritional guidance and lifestyle support is provided by Veronica Giudice, a HCPC-Registered Dietitian (DT26570) and British Dietetic Association member.
Last medically reviewed: August 2026