Get the Foundayo Pill

Orforglipron, brand name Foundayo, is now approved in the UK and available through Voy. It's made by Eli Lilly, who also make Mounjaro. The two get confused a lot, but they're separate medicines and there's no such thing as a Mounjaro pill.

Unlike the Wegovy pill, it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. In clinical trials, orforglipron helped people lose up to 12.4% of their starting weight over 72 weeks, with promising results in both weight loss and blood sugar control.

Here's how it works, what it costs, and how it stacks up against the alternatives.

Key Takeaways

• A once-daily oral GLP-1 pill, now approved in the UK under the brand name Foundayo
• Made by Eli Lilly, the same company that makes Mounjaro, but an entirely different medicine
• Cost: from £69 a month for the lowest dose on a 6-month plan with Voy
• At its highest dose, orforglipron led to 12.4% weight loss, versus 16.6% for the Wegovy pill (separate trials)
• Side effects are mostly mild to moderate gut symptoms, most common during dose escalation

How does orforglipron (Foundayo) work for weight loss?

Orforglipron, sold as Foundayo, is a once-daily GLP-1 weight loss pill. Like Wegovy injections and Saxenda, it mimics a natural hormone called GLP-1, which reduces hunger, curbs cravings, and helps you feel fuller for longer.

Unlike other GLP-1 medications, orforglipron is a non-peptide small molecule. This means it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. The Wegovy pill, by contrast, needs to be taken on an empty stomach with a 30-minute wait before eating or drinking, and even then, only around 1% of the dose is absorbed. Orforglipron's smaller, more stable structure means around 77% of each dose is absorbed, without needing any fasting rules or absorption enhancer.

Although orforglipron and Mounjaro are both made by Eli Lilly, they are completely different medicines. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which works on two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP) and is given as a weekly injection. Orforglipron targets GLP-1 only and comes as a daily tablet. For a full comparison, see our guide on orforglipron vs tirzepatide.

Like all GLP-1 medications, orforglipron works best alongside a reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity.

FYI: Ozempic contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy (semaglutide) but is licensed for type 2 diabetes rather than weight loss.

How effective is orforglipron (Foundayo) for weight loss?

Orforglipron weight loss without type 2 diabetes

Over 3,100 adults with obesity or overweight took orforglipron for 72 weeks. People on the maximum 17.2mg dose lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, compared to 0.9% with placebo. Results were dose-dependent, with higher doses producing greater weight loss.

Orforglipron weight loss with type 2 diabetes

People living with both obesity and type 2 diabetes took orforglipron for 72 weeks. Those on the maximum 17.2mg dose lost an average of 10.5% of their body weight, compared to 2.2% with placebo.

What other oral GLP-1 medications are available?

Oral semaglutide is orforglipron's closest competitor. There are currently two oral semaglutide options:

• Rybelsus: licensed in the UK for type 2 diabetes
• Wegovy pill: licensed in the UK for weight loss.

People taking the Wegovy pill (25mg) lost 16.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks among those who completed the full course of treatment.

How does orforglipron compare to the Wegovy pill?

Both the Wegovy pill and orforglipron are once-daily oral GLP-1 medicines, now approved in the UK. The Wegovy pill contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Wegovy injections, and unlike orforglipron, it must be taken on an empty stomach each morning with a 30-minute wait before eating or drinking. Orforglipron is also licensed for type 2 diabetes, whereas the Wegovy pill is licensed for weight loss only.

At its highest dose (25mg), the Wegovy pill led to an average weight loss of 16.6%, while orforglipron at its highest dose (17.2mg) led to an average of 12.4%. These figures come from separate trials, so they aren't a direct comparison, but they give a sense of how each performs at the dose people would actually be prescribed.

Wegovy pill vs orforglipron: at a glance

How does orforglipron (Foundayo) compare to weight loss injections?

Orforglipron shows promising results, but injectable GLP-1 medications tend to produce greater weight loss at their highest doses:

• Mounjaro (15mg): up to 22.5% weight loss over 72 weeks
• Wegovy (7.2mg): 20.7% weight loss over 72 weeks
• Orforglipron (17.2mg): 12.4% weight loss over 72 weeks
• Saxenda (3mg): around 7.4% weight loss after one year

So while orforglipron doesn't quite match the top-performing injectables, it's a step forward for people who prefer not to inject. For a detailed comparison with Mounjaro specifically, see our guide on orforglipron vs tirzepatide.

How does orforglipron (Foundayo) compare to orlistat?

Orlistat (sold as Orlos) is a weight loss tablet that has been available in the UK for many years. It works differently from GLP-1 medications, reducing the amount of fat your gut absorbs from food rather than suppressing appetite.

Orforglipron appears significantly more effective. Around 1 in 5 people taking orlistat lose at least 10% of their body weight after a year, compared to 60% of people on orforglipron at the highest trial dose over 72 weeks.

Orforglipron (Foundayo) dosage guide

Orforglipron is taken as a once-daily tablet, starting at a low dose and gradually increasing. The approved dosing schedule for Foundayo goes from a starting dose of 0.8mg up to a maximum of 17.2mg.

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

Your prescriber will move you up to the next dose after at least 30 days, until you find the dose that works best for you. Not everyone needs to reach the maximum 17.2mg dose, and some may stay on a lower dose long-term if they're seeing results and tolerating it well.

How to take orforglipron (Foundayo)

Orforglipron is taken once a day, with or without food, at any time of day. Swallow the tablet whole, without breaking, crushing, or chewing it.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Don't take two doses in the same day. If you miss orforglipron for 7 or more days in a row, speak to your prescriber before restarting treatment.

How should orforglipron be stored?

Orforglipron tablets don't need any special temperature storage conditions, but they are light-sensitive, so keep them in their original packaging. Keep out of reach of children.

What are the side effects of orforglipron (Foundayo)?

Orforglipron side effects were mostly mild to moderate and consistent with other GLP-1 medications. The most commonly reported in trials were:

• Nausea (affecting 29-36% of people)
• Constipation (22-30%)
• Diarrhoea (21-23%)
• Vomiting (13-24%)
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)
• Abdominal pain

These were most common during dose escalation and generally eased over time.

Like other GLP-1 receptor agonists, orforglipron has been associated with a modest increase in resting heart rate. In phase 3 trials, people taking Foundayo experienced an average increase of 4 to 5 beats per minute, compared to less than 1 beat per minute with placebo. This is not usually clinically significant in otherwise healthy people, but worth discussing with your clinician if you have a heart condition or take any medications that affect your heart rate.

Early data also suggests orforglipron may cause fewer gut-related side effects than Mounjaro, which works on two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP) rather than one. That dual action is what makes Mounjaro particularly effective for weight loss, but it may also contribute to more side effects.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of orforglipron (Foundayo) are uncommon, but they need urgent attention. Stop taking it and seek medical help straight away if you notice any of the following:

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia): shakiness, sweating, confusion, blurred vision, or a racing heartbeat, especially if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea
• Severe allergic reaction: swelling around the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, or a widespread rash
• Gallbladder complications: pain under your ribs on the right side, fever, or yellowing of your skin or eyes
• Dehydration: dark, concentrated urine, or vomiting and diarrhoea lasting more than a day or two
• Pancreatitis: severe, ongoing pain in your upper stomach that can spread to your back
• Sudden vision changes: especially relevant if you have type 2 diabetes

Side effects support at Voy

"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.

Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."

Phoebe Fox - Weight Loss Specialist

Who shouldn't take orforglipron (Foundayo)?

Orforglipron isn't suitable for everyone. Based on current prescribing information for Foundayo, the main contraindications and warnings are:

Don't take orforglipron if you:

• Have had a serious allergic reaction to orforglipron
• Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• Are already taking another GLP-1 medicine like Wegovy, the Wegovy pill, Mounjaro, Ozempic, or Rybelsus

Talk to your prescriber first if you:

• Have a history of pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, or kidney problems
• Have type 2 diabetes and take insulin or sulfonylureas (risk of low blood sugar)
• Have severe stomach problems like gastroparesis
• Have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• Have a heart condition, given the modest heart rate increase associated with GLP-1 medicines
• Take the oral contraceptive pill. Backup contraception is recommended for 30 days after starting orforglipron and after each dose increase.
• Take certain medicines that can interact with orforglipron, such as some antifungals, antibiotics, epilepsy medicines, simvastatin or rosuvastatin. Your prescriber will check your current medications before starting treatment.
• Are scheduled for surgery or any procedure involving anaesthesia

Can orforglipron (Foundayo) help with blood sugar control?

Yes. The UK is the first country in Europe to approve orforglipron for type 2 diabetes as well as weight management, so it can now be prescribed to help with blood sugar control too.

In people with both obesity and type 2 diabetes, 75% of those taking the highest trial dose reached an HbA1c of 6.5% or below, the level used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar levels fell by an average of 1.3% to 1.8% across doses.

In a head-to-head trial, orforglipron lowered HbA1c more than Rybelsus, the only oral GLP-1 currently licensed for type 2 diabetes in the UK.

What are the other potential benefits of orforglipron (Foundayo)?

Beyond weight loss, orforglipron has shown a range of other health improvements across trials. People taking the medication saw reductions in blood pressure, improvements in cholesterol, lower triglyceride levels, and meaningful reductions in waist circumference, all markers of cardiovascular and metabolic health.

A separate analysis also found that levels of an inflammation marker called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) fell by 47.7% at the highest trial dose. That matters because chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other long-term conditions.

These findings suggest Foundayo may offer broader benefits for heart and metabolic health, but longer-term outcome trials are still ongoing.

Can orforglipron (Foundayo) help maintain weight loss after stopping injections?

Many people who reach their goal weight on Wegovy or Mounjaro wonder what comes next, and whether switching to a tablet could help them maintain their results.

The ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial followed people who had lost weight on Wegovy or Zepbound (the US version of Mounjaro for weight loss) over 72 weeks, before switching them to orforglipron. Those who switched from Wegovy had lost around 18kg and gained back less than 1kg after switching. Those who switched from Zepbound had lost around 25kg and gained back 5kg.

This is promising early evidence for orforglipron as a maintenance option.

How much will orforglipron cost in the UK?

With Voy, Foundayo pricing starts from £69 a month for the lowest dose on a 6-month plan. Longer plans work out cheaper per month, and prices rise as your dose increases, unless you choose to stay on a lower one. All new customers receive a discount on their first order.

Start your weight loss journey today

Foundayo is available to prescribe through Voy today. Take our short quiz to see if you're eligible. It takes about two minutes.

Foundayo isn't the only option. The Wegovy pill is another once-daily oral GLP-1, and Wegovy injections and Mounjaro produce greater weight loss in trials if you're open to a weekly injection. Between them they've helped hundreds of thousands of people across the UK lose weight.

Take our short quiz to see if you're eligible.