Foundayo (orforglipron): Prescription weight loss tablet
Foundayo is the second licensed daily GLP-1 weight loss tablet in the UK, approved by the MHRA on 10 August 2026. It contains orforglipron, a new type of GLP-1 receptor agonist that works differently from semaglutide-based treatments. Unlike other oral GLP-1 medicines, it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. No injections. No fridge. No fasting window.
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is a once-daily oral weight loss tablet containing orforglipron, a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist. It belongs to the same class of medicines as Wegovy and Mounjaro, but it is a chemically distinct active ingredient with a different molecular structure.
The MHRA authorised Foundayo on 10 August 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to license the tablet for both weight management and type 2 diabetes. It is manufactured by Eli Lilly and is backed by the Phase 3 ATTAIN clinical programme.
Unlike other oral GLP-1 medications currently on the market, Foundayo can be taken at any time of the day and does not require an empty stomach. This makes it a more flexible option for people whose mornings are not compatible with the fasting window required by the Wegovy pill.
How to access Foundayo through DoktorABC
Complete an online consultation and medical questionnaire. A UK-registered prescriber will review your answers and, if Foundayo is considered clinically appropriate, approve a prescription.
Important information
DoktorABC UK is a digital health platform that connects patients with independent, UK-registered prescribers. DoktorABC UK does not itself provide medical care, issue prescriptions or dispense medicines. All clinical decisions are made by the UK-registered prescriber following an individual medical assessment.
How does it work?
Orforglipron mimics the action of GLP-1, a hormone your body naturally releases after eating. GLP-1 acts on areas of the brain that regulate hunger and fullness, and orforglipron copies this effect throughout the day.
In practice, this means it can help to:
- Take the edge off hunger through the day
- Help you feel fuller sooner after eating
- Reduce cravings and make portion control easier
- Support steady weight loss when paired with diet and activity changes
Foundayo supports weight loss, but works best alongside a reduced-calorie diet, increased physical activity and longer-term lifestyle changes. It is not a replacement for these changes, but a tool that can make them more manageable.
What makes orforglipron different from semaglutide?
Orforglipron is a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it has a different chemical structure from semaglutide. This makes taking it much easier and more flexible with your daily life. Because it is not a peptide-based medicine, it does not have the same absorption sensitivity to food and water that semaglutide does. This is why there is no fasting window or timing restriction.
Dosing and titration
The guide below shows the standard titration pathway. It is a reference, and a UK-registered prescriber will set and adjust your dose schedule based on how you respond to treatment.
| Step | Dose | Minimum duration |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 3 mg once daily | 4 weeks |
| Step 2 | 12 mg once daily | 4 weeks |
| Maintenance | 36 mg or 45 mg once daily | As directed by prescriber |
If you experience side effects at any stage, speak to your UK-registered prescriber before adjusting your dose. Do not change your dose without clinical guidance.
How to take Foundayo
One of Foundayo's most practical advantages over the Wegovy pill is its flexibility. The MHRA says it can be taken at any time of day, with no food or water restrictions.
- Take one tablet once daily at a consistent time that suits your routine
- It can be taken with or without food
- Swallow the tablet whole with water
- Do not split, crush or chew the tablet
There is no requirement to take it on an empty stomach or to wait before eating or drinking. This makes it considerably more flexible for people who travel, work shifts, or take morning thyroid or other time-sensitive medications.
Who is it for?
Foundayo may be suitable for adults who are overweight or obese, and who want medical support to lose weight. As a general guide, it may be considered for adults with:
- A BMI of 30 or above, or
- A BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes or sleep apnoea
Suitability is always confirmed by a UK-registered prescriber during your online consultation. The consultation is the right place to discuss your full medical history, current medications and individual circumstances. A full list of contraindications and safety considerations is included in the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication.
Clinical evidence
During clinical trials, patients who stayed on Foundayo for the full 72 weeks lost 12.4% of their starting body weight on average. This was measured in the ATTAIN-1 Phase 3 trial, which studied orforglipron in adults with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes.
These results were achieved alongside dietary and lifestyle changes. Individual results vary, and the figures above are averages from a clinical trial, not a guarantee of what any individual will achieve.
Side effects
As with all medicines, Foundayo can cause side effects. Most are gastrointestinal in nature, tend to be most noticeable when starting treatment or stepping up to a higher dose, and often improve as your body adjusts.
The MHRA lists the most common side effects as nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, dyspepsia (indigestion) and abdominal pain.
Other commonly reported side effects include:
- Bloating or burping
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
If you experience vomiting or diarrhoea, it is important to keep your fluid intake up to avoid dehydration.
Side effects across all treatments
| Treatment | Most common side effects |
|---|---|
| Foundayo | Digestive: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion |
| Wegovy pill | Digestive: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation |
| Wegovy injection | Digestive: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation |
| Mounjaro | Digestive: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation |
When to seek help:
Speak to your GP, pharmacist or NHS 111 if side effects are severe, persistent or worrying. Seek urgent medical attention if you experience:
- Severe or ongoing stomach pain
- Signs of dehydration
- Sudden changes in vision
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Symptoms of pancreatitis: severe abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, with or without nausea or vomiting
For a full list of side effects, always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication.
How it compares
All four treatments reduce appetite and increase fullness. The main differences are how they are taken, storage requirements, and timing flexibility. The details below are from separate clinical trials and are not the result of direct head-to-head comparisons. They are intended to help you understand the general landscape, not to recommend one treatment over another.
| Foundayo | Wegovy pill | Wegovy injection | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it's taken | Daily tablet | Daily tablet | Weekly injection | Weekly injection |
| Needles | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Active ingredient | Orforglipron | Semaglutide | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly | Novo Nordisk | Novo | Eli Lilly |
| Empty stomach required | No | Yes, then wait 30 min | No | No |
| Storage | Room temperature | Room temperature | Refrigerate | Refrigerate |
| Availability | Prescription only | Prescription only | Prescription only | Prescription only |
| Average weight loss* | Around 12% | Around 14–17% | Around 15–21% | Up to around 21% |
| Common side effects | Mostly digestive | Mostly digestive | Mostly digestive | Mostly digestive |
*From separate clinical trials of different durations. Not a direct comparison.
Which one is right for me?
There is no single best option. The right choice depends on needle preference, daily routine, tolerability and personal goals, and is decided with your UK-registered prescriber at the consultation.
| Option | Consider it if... |
|---|---|
| Foundayo | You want a daily tablet with no fasting or timing rules, work shifts, travel regularly, or take morning medications that conflict with fasting |
| Wegovy pill | You would rather take a tablet than inject and can reliably keep to the strict empty-stomach morning routine |
| Wegovy injection | You want a simpler once-weekly option with no fasting or timing rules, or want the option of a higher dose |
| Mounjaro | You are focused on the greatest average weight loss in the trials and are comfortable with a weekly injection |
Switching to Foundayo
People may consider switching to Foundayo for a range of reasons, including a preference for tablets over injections, easier travel, a dislike of needles, or an inability to maintain the Wegovy pill's morning fasting routine. If your current treatment is working well, there is no clinical reason to switch.
Switching from the Wegovy injection or Wegovy pill
Due to semaglutide and orforglipron containing different active ingredients, there is no automatic dose conversion between them. A UK-registered prescriber will review your current treatment and determine the most appropriate starting dose for you.
Switching from Mounjaro
Since tirzepatide acts on two hormone pathways rather than one, it has generally shown higher average weight loss in clinical trials than orforglipron. Someone moving from Mounjaro to Foundayo may see a different result. This is not a like-for-like swap, and your prescriber will talk this through with you at the consultation.
