A detailed guide to Foundayo
In April 2026, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Foundayo, a new oral medication for adults with obesity or for adults with overweight and other weight-related medical conditions. It works by helping to reduce your appetite.
Foundayo has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Foundayo is an oral pill that contains the active ingredient orforglipron. It’s currently only available as a brand-name medication.
Foundayo is approved for weight management in adults with obesity and adults with overweight who also have at least one weight-related condition, such as hypertension or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It will typically be prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Clinical trials found that Foundayo is effective for weight loss, with people taking Foundayo losing an average of 25 pounds, or 11.1% of their body weight. It also reduced risks to cardiovascular health by reducing risk factors like waist circumference, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Foundayo is available as an oral tablet to be swallowed whole once per day. You should not break, split, or chew the tablets. Unlike other oral GLP-1s, it can be taken with or without food.
The starting dose of Foundayo is 0.8 milligrams (mg) once daily. Your doctor will slowly increase your dose over time — typically, at least every 30 days — until you reach the right dose for you.
Doses are typically increased to 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg, which is the maximum dosage of Foundayo.
Like any medication, Foundayo may cause some side effects. More common side effects reported with Foundayo include:
Most mild side effects are temporary and should improve within a few days to a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication, particularly gastrointestinal effects like nausea and vomiting.
Talk with your doctor if you experience serious side effects while taking Foundayo. If you experience side effects that feel life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.
Experiencing side effects? After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking this drug and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
Foundayo has a boxed warning for a risk of thyroid cancer.
Other GLP-1s have caused thyroid tumors in animal studies, but it is currently not known if they cause them in humans. Orforglipron (the active ingredient in Foundayo) is not pharmacologically active in rats or mice, so it’s not known if Foundayo causes thyroid tumors in rodents.
People who have had or have a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) should not take Foundayo. Talk with a doctor to learn more about this risk.
There are several safety considerations when taking Foundayo.
Foundayo may interact with other medications, supplements, herbs, vitamins, food, lab tests, or vaccines. Make sure you tell your doctor about all the other medications you are taking before you start Foundayo.
Foundayo slows how fast your stomach empties, so it can affect how well other oral medications are absorbed into the body. Other potential interactions for Foundayo include:
Note that this may not be a complete list of the medications that may interact with Foundayo. Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
If you have certain health conditions, Foundayo may not be right for you. Talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions apply to you:
It’s not yet known whether Foundayo is safe to take during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown possible harm to fetuses, but animal studies don’t always predict how a drug will affect humans, so more research is needed. Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It’s also not yet known whether it’s safe to take Foundayo while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor about the safest way to feed your child while taking Foundayo.
There are currently three other oral GLP-1s on the market: Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Ozempic. These have some key differences from Foundayo.
These others are drugs called peptides that are very sensitive to your stomach acid, which is why you must take them on an empty stomach. Foundayo, on the other hand, is a “small-molecule” drug that isn’t digested in the same way as other medications. This means it can be taken at whatever time is convenient for you, with or without food.
Let’s take a look at the main differences between these 4 oral GLP-1s.
The cost of Foundayo may vary depending on your location, the pharmacy you use, and your insurance coverage. Your insurer may need prior authorization before agreeing to cover Foundayo.
If your insurance covers Foundayo, you can use the Foundayo savings card to get the drug for $25 per month. For people without insurance or if your claim is denied, Foundayo is available through LillyDirect starting at $149 per month for the lowest dose and up to $349 for the maintenance dose.
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Foundayo is a new oral GLP-1 that can help with weight management in certain adults. It may be a good option for people who don’t want to use needles. It works differently from other oral GLP-1s, so there are fewer restrictions on how and when it’s taken.
Talk with a doctor if you think Foundayo might be right for you.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.