Foundayo Pill

About Foundayo

Foundayo is Eli Lilly's oral weight management treatment containing orforglipron. On 10 August 2026 the MHRA authorised it for weight management and type 2 diabetes, making the UK the first country in Europe to approve it.

Why orforglipron is different

Every other GLP-1 treatment is a peptide, a chain of amino acids that stomach acid readily destroys, which is why they are either injected or need an absorption enhancer and a strict fasting window. Orforglipron is a small molecule. It is chemically robust, absorbs reliably through the gut wall on its own, and is completely unaffected by food.

In practice that means one tablet a day, whenever suits you, with or without a meal. No 30-minute wait, no measuring out half a glass of water, no fridge.

Expected weight loss

In the ATTAIN-1 trial, adults with obesity or overweight taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of around 12% of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with around 1% on placebo.

Manufacturing at scale

Because small molecules are far simpler and cheaper to manufacture than peptides, orforglipron is expected to ease the supply constraints that have affected GLP-1 treatments since 2023.

How Foundayo works

Orforglipron binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, the same target as semaglutide and the GLP-1 half of tirzepatide, but it does so as a compact synthetic molecule rather than a hormone copy.

What that means for you

• Appetite suppression through the same hypothalamic pathways as injectable GLP-1s
• Slower gastric emptying, extending fullness after meals
• Better glucose control via glucose-dependent insulin release

The practical advantages

Small-molecule chemistry brings three real-world benefits: it survives the stomach without special formulation, absorption is not affected by food, and it is stable at room temperature. Together those remove almost every logistical friction point associated with GLP-1 treatment.

Steady daily levels

Orforglipron has a half-life suited to once-daily dosing, giving consistent appetite control across the day rather than the peaks and troughs some people notice on weekly injections.

How to take Foundayo

When

Once a day, at whatever time of day works for you. With food or without, it makes no difference to how well it absorbs. Try to keep to roughly the same time each day so it becomes automatic.

How

Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not crush, split or chew it.

Dose schedule

Treatment starts at 6mg once daily for four weeks, then steps up to 12mg for four weeks, and then to 36mg as the maintenance dose. Your prescriber may keep you on a lower dose for longer if you are managing well there, or if step-ups cause nausea.

Missed dose

Take it as soon as you remember on the same day. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose and carry on as normal. Never take two tablets in one day.

Travelling

No refrigeration and no fasting window makes Foundayo the most travel-friendly option we offer. Keep tablets in the original packaging, below 30°C, and take them in hand luggage.

Side effects

The side effect profile is typical of the GLP-1 class and is predominantly gastrointestinal.

Very common (more than 1 in 10 people)

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Vomiting

Common (up to 1 in 10 people)

• Indigestion and abdominal discomfort
• Reduced appetite
• Headache and fatigue
• Burping

Seek medical advice urgently

• Severe, persistent stomach pain spreading to the back, possible pancreatitis
• Signs of an allergic reaction such as facial swelling or breathing difficulty
• Severe pain under the right ribs, fever or jaundice, possible gallbladder problems
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea with signs of dehydration

As a recently authorised medicine, Foundayo is under additional monitoring. Reporting any side effect you experience through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme helps build the safety picture.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: orforglipron.

Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate and a film coat containing hypromellose, titanium dioxide and macrogol.

Supplied as film-coated tablets in 6mg, 12mg and 36mg strengths. Each pack contains 30 tablets, one month's supply. Store below 30°C; no refrigeration required.

Important safety information

Do not take Foundayo if you:

• Are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding
• Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2
• Have had pancreatitis
• Have type 1 diabetes
• Are allergic to orforglipron or any other ingredient

Speak to your prescriber first if you have severe gastrointestinal disease, gallstones, diabetic retinopathy, significant kidney or liver impairment, a history of eating disorders, or take insulin or a sulfonylurea.

Do not combine with any other GLP-1 medicine.

Foundayo is newly authorised in the UK. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine, and report any suspected side effects via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.