Foundayo Pill for Weight Management
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.
How Does It Work?
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.
Who Meets the UK Eligibility Criteria?
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.
How Is It Taken?
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.
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.
Is Foundayo Available in the UK?
Orforglipron is MHRA-authorised and licensed for use in the UK, but it is not yet on sale and is not currently available through an NHS weight-loss service.
NICE is expected to publish its guidance in November 2026. Any NHS use will depend on the outcome of the NICE appraisal and subsequent NHS implementation.
In the meantime, some private providers offer an online consultation and pre-order route, following a medical assessment by a prescriber.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Our online weight-loss programme is a complementary service and not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. If you have an underlying health condition, please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new weight-loss treatments.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Weight loss can begin during the early stages of treatment, but the amount and rate of weight loss vary between individuals. Clinical trials [1] measured weight changes over several months, with results. continuing to develop throughout the 72-week treatment period
No. Eli Lilly makes both, and both support weight loss, but they work differently. The orforglipron pill acts only on GLP-1 receptors, while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. They’re separate medicines.
No. The Foundayo tablet can be taken at any time of day, with or without food, and with no water restrictions. This sets it apart from the Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide), which does require fasting and timing rules.
Only through a registered pharmacy with a valid prescription. Foundayo isn’t on general sale in the UK yet. Buying GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers carries serious health risks, and it’s illegal to advertise prescription-only medicines directly to the public.
It isn’t recommended for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, due to a warning about thyroid C-cell tumours seen in animal studies (this risk hasn’t been confirmed in humans).
Always discuss your full medical history with your medical care team before starting.
The main difference is the format: this orforglipron weight-loss pill is swallowed rather than injected weekly or daily. This may suit people who prefer to avoid needles.
No. Beyond orforglipron weight management use, it’s also approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes that isn’t well controlled on their current treatment. Like other oral medicines in the GLP-1 class, it’s used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not as a standalone treatment.
Treatment begins at a low starting dose and increases gradually, with a minimum of one month at each level, so it typically takes several months to reach the top dose of 17.2 mg. Not everyone needs to get there.
Your healthcare provider may keep you on a lower dose if it’s working well and your weight loss results are on track.
Orforglipron has not been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. However, clinical research [1,2] has evaluated its cardiovascular safety, including whether the risk of major cardiovascular events differs from other treatments.
Further research is needed to determine whether orforglipron provides any cardiovascular benefit.
Resources & Further Reading
Wharton, S., Aronne, L. J., Stefanski, A., Alfaris, N. F., Ciudin, A., Yokote, K., Halpern, B., Shukla, A. P., Zhou, C., Macpherson, L., Allen, S. E., Ahmad, N. N., & Klise, S. R. (2025). Orforglipron, an oral Small-Molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity treatment. New England Journal of Medicine, 393(18), 1796–1806. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2511774
Rosenstock J, Yabe D, Cox D et al. Efficacy and safety of once-daily oral orforglipron compared with oral semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes (ACHIEVE-3): a multinational, multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial. The Lancet, 2026; 407, 1147-1160
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. (2026, August 10). UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes [Press release]. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-first-in-europe-to-authorise-orforglipron-for-weight-management-and-type-2-diabetes
About Your Clinical Team
This content was medically reviewed and approved by Danny Gian Hou Chu, an HCPC-registered Physician Associate (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 are provided by Veronica Giudice, an HCPC-registered dietitian (DT26570) and British Dietetic Association member.
Last medically reviewed: August 2026