ELI LILLY'S ORAL GLP-1 THERAPY FOUNDAYO (ORFORGLIPRON) IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Foundayo is the second oral GLP-1 drug approved for weight management
Straight Healthcare
April 2026
April 2026
The FDA recently approved Foundayo (orforglipron), an oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, for chronic weight management in adults. Foundayo is the second oral GLP-1 analog approved for weight loss, following Wegovy tablets, which were approved in January.
The clinical efficacy of Foundayo was evaluated in two 72-week trials. In ATTAIN-1, 3,127 overweight participants without diabetes were enrolled, while in ATTAIN-2, 1,613 overweight patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. In ATTAIN-1, Foundayo doses of 6 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg achieved mean weight reductions of 7.5%, 8.4%, and 11.2%, respectively, compared to a 2.1% reduction for placebo (p < 0.001 for all groups). ATTAIN-2 results showed weight loss of 5.1%, 7.0%, and 9.6% for the same doses, compared with 2.5% for placebo (p < 0.0001). While significant, these results are lower than the average weight loss observed with the highest doses of the Wegovy tablet (14%), Wegovy injection (16%), and Zepbound injection (21%). Common gastrointestinal side effects reported with the 17.2 mg dose included nausea (35%), diarrhea (25%), constipation (24%), vomiting (24%), abdominal pain (14%), and dyspepsia (13%). Foundayo is primarily metabolized via hepatic CYP3A4, and the dose should not exceed 9 mg when taken with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Use with strong CYP3A4 inducers is not recommended.
A distinction between Foundayo's clinical development and commercialization is the dosing. While trials used 6 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg doses, Lilly conducted pharmacokinetic studies to establish equivalent doses of 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg for manufacturing.
One advantage Foundayo has over Wegovy tablets is that it can be taken without regard to food. In contrast, Wegovy tablets must be taken on an empty stomach, with no food or drink allowed for 30 minutes afterward. Foundayo pricing, which aligns with Wegovy tablets, is as follows:
The clinical efficacy of Foundayo was evaluated in two 72-week trials. In ATTAIN-1, 3,127 overweight participants without diabetes were enrolled, while in ATTAIN-2, 1,613 overweight patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. In ATTAIN-1, Foundayo doses of 6 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg achieved mean weight reductions of 7.5%, 8.4%, and 11.2%, respectively, compared to a 2.1% reduction for placebo (p < 0.001 for all groups). ATTAIN-2 results showed weight loss of 5.1%, 7.0%, and 9.6% for the same doses, compared with 2.5% for placebo (p < 0.0001). While significant, these results are lower than the average weight loss observed with the highest doses of the Wegovy tablet (14%), Wegovy injection (16%), and Zepbound injection (21%). Common gastrointestinal side effects reported with the 17.2 mg dose included nausea (35%), diarrhea (25%), constipation (24%), vomiting (24%), abdominal pain (14%), and dyspepsia (13%). Foundayo is primarily metabolized via hepatic CYP3A4, and the dose should not exceed 9 mg when taken with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Use with strong CYP3A4 inducers is not recommended.
A distinction between Foundayo's clinical development and commercialization is the dosing. While trials used 6 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg doses, Lilly conducted pharmacokinetic studies to establish equivalent doses of 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg for manufacturing.
One advantage Foundayo has over Wegovy tablets is that it can be taken without regard to food. In contrast, Wegovy tablets must be taken on an empty stomach, with no food or drink allowed for 30 minutes afterward. Foundayo pricing, which aligns with Wegovy tablets, is as follows:
- 0.8 mg: $149/month
- 2.5 mg: $199/month
- 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg: $299/month
