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What is Foundayo?
About this page. Written by the GLPInfo editorial team with AI assistance from the official sources listed at the end, and approved by the site owner before publication. It has not been reviewed by a named clinician. Published 27 Aug 2026 · last updated 27 Aug 2026 · next scheduled review 27 Nov 2026.
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Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, Eli Lilly's once-daily weight-loss tablet. The MHRA approved it for the UK on 10 August 2026 and it launched here on 24 August 2026. It is the first small-molecule GLP-1 tablet, which is why, unlike the Wegovy pill, it can be taken at any time of day with no food or water restrictions.
How it works
Orforglipron is a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist. It activates the same appetite-regulating pathway as the injectable GLP-1 medicines, but it is not a peptide: it is a conventional small molecule, originally discovered by Chugai Pharmaceutical and developed by Eli Lilly. Because the stomach does not break it down the way it breaks down peptides, the tablet needs no fasting window: it is taken once daily, whole, with or without food, at any time of day.
Licence and doses
The UK licence covers weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 and above with at least one weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Six tablet strengths run from 0.8mg through 2.5mg, 5.5mg, 9mg and 14.5mg to 17.2mg, supplied as 30-tablet monthly packs, with dose increases made by the prescriber after at least 30 days at each step depending on response and tolerability.
What the trials showed
In ATTAIN-1 (72 weeks, adults with obesity without diabetes, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025), the highest dose produced an average body-weight reduction of 12.4% (27.3lb) among those who completed treatment, versus 0.9% with placebo; counting everyone randomised regardless of completion, the averages were 11.1% versus 2.1%. That sits below the injections' trial averages (tirzepatide about 20.9% in SURMOUNT-1, semaglutide 14.9% in STEP 1), with the usual caveat that cross-trial comparisons are unreliable and no head-to-head against the injections has been published.
Side effects and safety
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting and indigestion, most often during dose escalation. The patient information leaflet lists the full range including less common serious risks such as pancreatitis and dehydration. Report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. For how it compares with the alternatives, see Foundayo vs Mounjaro and Foundayo vs the Wegovy pill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Foundayo available in the UK now?
Yes. The MHRA approved it on 10 August 2026 and UK online providers began selling and pre-selling it from 24 August 2026. Stock positions differ by provider; our comparison marks which doses each provider currently ships: compare Foundayo prices.
How is Foundayo different from the Wegovy pill?
Both are daily tablets, but orforglipron is a small molecule with no food or water restrictions, while oral semaglutide is a peptide that must be taken fasted with a 30-minute wait. Trial results and prices also differ: full comparison.
How much weight do people lose on Foundayo?
In ATTAIN-1, the highest dose averaged 12.4% body-weight reduction over 72 weeks among completers (11.1% counting everyone randomised), versus about 1-2% with placebo. Individual results vary widely and trial participants get structured lifestyle support.
Is Foundayo available on the NHS?
Not currently. It is a private prescription in the UK at launch; NICE appraisal for NHS use follows its own timetable.
Related: Foundayo price comparison · cheapest Foundayo today · true cost guide · how to check a provider