Foundayo is an oral GLP-1 containing orforglipron, and helps you lose weight by suppressing your appetite making you feel fuller for longer.
Foundayo is taken once daily, unlike the Wegovy pill, there are no food or drink restrictions. This means to take Foundayo you simply pick a time to take the pill, you should stick to this time each day but you can take it with or without food. You can swallow it whole or with water but you must not crush or chew the tablet.
Clinical trials have found that patients lose an average 12.4% of their starting weight on the maximum maintenance dose of Foundayo after 72 weeks.
Product details
Foundayo is the latest GLP-1 weight loss pill to be approved in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Foundayo was already approved for weight loss in the US, and the UK is the first country in Europe to approve it.
Foundayo’s active ingredient, orforglipron, is the first non-peptide GLP-1 weight loss medication to be approved. This means that unlike alternative weight loss pills, like the Wegovy pill, Foundayo is stable in stomach acid, so it does not require any strict fasting rules and can be taken like other standard tablets. This is a huge advantage if you need more flexibility when taking your medication.
When will Foundayo be available in the UK?
Foundayo is now available in the UK. It was authorised as a treatment for weight loss on August 10th 2026 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is not yet known if or when Foundayo will be available on the NHS, as this is pending a separate NICE review that is scheduled for November 2026.
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is a prescription-only, once-daily weight loss tablet that contains orforglipron, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Foundayo is an oral pill that is swallowed whole at any time of day that is convenient for you. It is made by Eli Lilly, the same manufacturer as Mounjaro.
Unlike other weight loss pills, there are no fasting or water requirements when you take Foundayo because it is stable in stomach acid, making it a more flexible and convenient option for some people.
How does Foundayo work?
Foundayo’s active ingredient, orforglipron , works by binding to the GLP-1 receptors in the brain to mimic the effects of the naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1. So, Foundayo works to help you lose weight by:
- reducing your appetite
- slowing the time it takes for food to pass through the stomach
- regulating your blood sugar levels
These effects mean that Foundayo helps you snack less between meals, keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and prevents blood sugar crashes that can make you hungry. Together, this makes it easier for you to stick to a diet and exercise plan, which you will need to do to get the full benefit of Foundayo.
How long does Foundayo last?
Each blister pack contains either 30 or 90 film-coated tablets, which means 1 Foundayo pack will last either 30 or 90 days.
Orforglipron has a long half life of 29 to 49 hours, which means it will take 7 to 10 days to fully clear from your system, but you will need to take it daily to keep the levels consistent in your body.
How long does Foundayo take to work?
Some people notice changes in their appetite during the first 4 weeks of starting Foundayo, but you will begin treatment on a very low dose to help your body get used to the medication. So, it can take several months to notice significant weight loss. Clinical trials show that average weight loss after 12 weeks on Foundayo is around 5%.
How effective is Foundayo?
The ATTAIN-1 trial has shown that the average weight loss on Foundayo was 12.4% in people who remained on the maximum study dose of 36mg daily for 72 weeks. The 36mg hard capsule has an equal effect to the 17.2mg film-coated tablet dose. The same study found that the highest dose resulted in:
- 77.1% of people losing at least 5% of their starting body weight
- 59.6% of people losing 10% or more of their starting body weight
- 39.6% of people losing at least 15% of their starting body weight
- 20.1% of people losing 20% or more of their starting body weight
The results also found that Foundayo reduced waist circumference, blood fat levels, and inflammation across all of the tested doses. Real life results may differ as doses licensed for use in the UK are lower than the maximum dose used in this study.
How to take Foundayo
Foundayo is a once daily pill. You can take your daily dose at any time of the day, whenever is most convenient for you, with or without food. You should swallow the tablet whole, with some water if needed, but do not break, crush, or chew the tablet or take more than 1 pill per day.
Because Foundayo does not require special coatings to protect it from stomach acid and enhance its absorption into the bloodstream, like some other GLP-1 pills, it does not have any fasting restrictions you must follow before taking it. This makes taking Foundayo easier and more flexible for some people
How long do you need to take Foundayo for?
Foundayo is intended to be a long-term weight loss treatment, with clinical trial participants taking it for at least 72 weeks. Your pharmacist will advise how long you may need to continue taking Foundayo for.
What if I miss a dose of Foundayo?
If you forget to take a Foundayo dose, take it as soon as you remember, but do not take more than one tablet per day. You should not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you miss 7 or more Foundayo pills in a row, speak to your pharmacist because you will need to restart your schedule at a lower dose to reduce the chance of side effects. Your pharmacist will advise you how to do this safely.
What if I take too much Foundayo?
Taking too much Foundayo can make you feel sick or be sick. You must contact your pharmacist immediately for advice if you have taken too many Foundayo pills.
What happens when I stop taking Foundayo?
You should not just stop taking Foundayo without talking to your pharmacist first. Although GLP-1 medications, including Foundayo, do not cause withdrawal effects, without slowly reducing your dose, your appetite can return to previous levels, which increases the chance of weight gain. It can also cause your blood sugar levels to rise, which may be problematic if you have type 2 diabetes.
If you are thinking about stopping Foundayo, speak to your pharmacist who will advise you on the safest way to stop your treatment.
Foundayo dosages
Foundayo pills are available in 6 dosages. You’ll begin on the starting dose of 0.8mg per day, which will be increased every 30 days, until you reach the maximum daily dose of 17.2mg.
The available Foundayo doses are:
- Month 1 (starting dose) – 0.8mg
- Month 2 – 2.5mg
- Month 3 – 5.5mg
- Month 4 – 9mg
- Month 5 – 14.5mg
- Month 6 (maximum dose) – 17.2mg
You may not need to take the maximum Foundayo dose. Your pharmacist will monitor how your body responds to orforglipron, whether you get any side effects, and consider your weight loss goals to help you find the lowest effective dose.
Foundayo side effects
All medications can cause side effects, including Foundayo, but not everyone will get them.
Very common Foundayo side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- being sick (vomiting)
- indigestion
- tomach pain
Common Foundayo side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include:
- low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) when Foundayo is taken with a sulfonylurea alone or in combination with up to 2 other type 2 diabetes medications
- dizziness
- headache
- fast pulse
- low blood pressure
- bloating
- burping
- reflux or heartburn
- gas
- gallstones
- hair loss
- feeling tired
- increased levels of pancreatic enzymes in your blood
Uncommon Foundayo side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) are:
- low blood sugar when orforglipron is taken without insulin or a sulfonylurea
- unusual sense of taste
- unpleasant or abnormal feeling when touched
- acute pancreatitis
You can find a full list of side effects in the Foundayo patient information leaflet.
How long do Foundayo side effects last?
Most Foundayo side effects are mild and temporary and can last from a few days to a few weeks. They are likely to peak when you first start taking Foundayo or when your dose is increased. However, many people find that they improve as your body gets used to the medication or the new dose.
What to do if you get Foundayo side effects
Although most Foundayo side effects will go away on their own, there are things you can do to help manage them at home.
Here are some of the ways you can manage the following side effects:
- feeling or being sick – eat 6 smaller meals across the day rather than 3 large meals, stay hydrated, and get plenty of rest until you feel better
- diarrhoea – drink plenty of water, slowly introduce fibre into your diet, and speak to a pharmacist about over the counter anti-diarrhoea medications
- constipation – drink plenty of water, add fibre to your diet, and try gentle exercise, such as walking after a meal, to help keep your digestive system moving
- headaches – drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration and take painkillers, such as paracetamol to relieve pain
- indigestion – eat smaller, more frequent meals, avoid trigger foods like spicy, fatty, or greasy meals, and try over the counter antacids
When to seek help
If you get any side effects that are not improving, getting worse, or are difficult to manage, contact your pharmacist. Sometimes, Foundayo can also cause serious side effects. If you get any of the following, speak to your pharmacist immediately, or in an emergency go to A&E or call 999:
- inflamed pancreas – signs include severe stomach pain that radiates to the back and does not go away
- bowel obstruction – severe stomach pain, a swollen stomach, being sick, or not being able to pass wind or open your bowels
- severe constipation – bloating, and feeling unable to open your bowels
- serious allergic reactions – signs include swelling of your lips, eyes, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, cold skin, feeling dizzy or weak
- increased chance of food or liquid entering the lungs during surgery or other procedures – tell your pharmacist or surgeon that you are taking Foundayo before surgery
- kidney problems – signs include dehydration caused by being sick or having diarrhoea, and can sometimes require treatment such as kidney dialysis
Who is Foundayo for?
Foundayo is taken alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan, and is suitable for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of:
- 30 or more
- 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related health condition, such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or obstructive sleep apnoea
Use our free BMI calculator tool to find out if Foundayo may be suitable for you.
Who is Foundayo not suitable for?
Foundayo may not be suitable for everyone because certain health conditions or medications can interact with Foundayo and can make it less effective or potentially unsafe.
Do not take Foundayo if you are:
- allergic to orforglipron or any other ingredients listed in the medication
- pregnant or breastfeeding
Before taking Foundayo, let the pharmacist know if you:
- have or have ever had pancreatitis
- are using a sulfonylurea and/or insulin for diabetes
- have severe problems with food digestion or food staying in your stomach for longer than usual (severe gastroparesis)
- you have kidney problems because some Foundayo side effects, like feeling and being sick and diarrhoea, can cause dehydration
- are taking medication to manage high blood pressure
- have gallbladder problems
- have a problem with your eyes or vision
- are due to have surgery and require anaesthesia
- have or have had severe heart failure
Foundayo and other medications
Before taking Foundayo, let the pharmacist know if you are taking any prescribed, over the counter, or herbal medications. Foundayo can delay gastric emptying and potentially affect the absorption of other oral medications so it’s best to check with your pharmacist if any additional monitoring is recommended when starting Foundayo.
Some medications can increase the concentration of Foundayo in your blood, such as:
- clarithromycin to treat bacterial infections
- itraconazole to treat fungal infections
- ritonavir or telaprevir to treat viral infections
- ciclosporin for immunosuppression
Some medications can reduce the amount of Foundayo in your blood, such as:
- carbamazepine to treat seizures
- bosentan for high blood pressure in the lungs
- efavirenz to treat viral infections
- rifampicin to treat bacterial infections
- phenytoin for seizures
- St. John’s wort, a herbal preparation used to manage depression and anxiety
Foundayo can also increase the amount of the following medications in your blood:
- simvastatin for lowering cholesterol
- rosuvastatin for lowering cholesterol
- topotecan for treating certain cancers
Foundayo vs Mounjaro
Foundayo and Mounjaro are both approved weight loss medications in the UK. Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, while Foundayo contains orforglipron and is a once-daily tablet that you swallow. Both options can be taken at any time of the day and there are no food or water restrictions.
Foundayo works by binding to the GLP-1 receptors to help you lose weight. Mounjaro binds to GLP-1 and GIP receptors, making it a dual agonist and is thought to contribute to its enhanced effects.
Foundayo vs Wegovy
Wegovy is a once-weekly weight loss injection that contains semaglutide. Foundayo, on the other hand, is a daily weight loss pill that contains orforglipron. Both medications work in the same way by mimicking the effects of GLP-1 to reduce your appetite, slow digestion, and regulate your blood sugar levels. There are no fasting or water requirements to follow when taking Foundayo or Wegovy.
Foundayo vs Wegovy pill
The Wegovy pill and Foundayo are both examples of GLP-1 weight loss tablets. However, Foundayo is a non-peptide pill, which means it does not need a special coating like the Wegovy pill to survive the harsh stomach environment and support its absorption into the bloodstream.
It also means that Foundayo can be taken at any time of the day with or without food, whereas the Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with only a small amount of water, and at least 30 minutes before food and drink.
Although Foundayo offers a more flexible dosing regimen, the Wegovy pill has been shown to have a greater effect on weight loss. The average weight loss on the maximum Wegovy pill dose is 16.6% after 64 weeks, whereas it is 12.4% after 72 weeks on the maximum Foundayo dose.