What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron. It’s a new GLP-1 pill developed by Eli Lilly (the company behind Zepbound). It’s FDA-approved for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who also have weight-related health conditions like type-2 diabetes or heart disease. It first became available in the USA in April 2026.
What makes it stand out from other weight loss medications is that, unlike other GLP-1 medications, Foundayo is a pill (not an injection) you can take at any time of day without food or water restrictions.
This is because injectables like Wegovy or Zepbound are larger molecules called peptides, while Foundayo’s active ingredient is a small, non-peptide molecule. This meant that it could be made into a pill that can be taken by mouth once a day.
How does Foundayo work?
Foundayo (orforglipron) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, so it works similarly to drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone your body naturally produces to regulate your appetite, blood sugar, and digestion, helping to:[1]
- Support weight loss by reducing hunger cues and calorie intake.
- Slow stomach emptying, which can help you feel full for longer after eating.
- Reduce appetite and food cravings, especially for foods that are high in fat and sugar.
- Improve blood sugar control by helping your body to use glucose more effectively and increasing insulin production.
- May lower blood pressure and improve your heart health.
What doses of Foundayo are there?
There are six doses of Foundayo available:
| Dose |
Color |
Shape |
| 0.8mg |
Pink |
Round |
| 2.5mg |
Light yellow |
Round |
| 5.5mg |
Grayish purple |
Round |
| 9mg |
Pink |
Modified oval |
| 14.5mg |
Light yellow |
Modified oval |
| 17.2mg |
Grayish purple |
Modified oval |
All doses are pills that you take once a day, at any time.
You’ll typically start by taking the 0.8mg dose once daily for at least 30 days. If you tolerate it well, your doctor may advise that you increase the dose to 2.5mg daily.
After that, depending on your response to the medication, your dose may be titrated every 30 days until you reach the highest dose you feel comfortable on, up to a maximum of 17.2mg per day. However, not everyone needs the highest dose. Many people find that a lower dose works just fine for them.
Will I get side effects using Foundayo?
While this doesn’t happen for everyone, you may get side effects from taking Foundayo. Like other GLP-1 medications, the most common side effects are gastrointestinal issues, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, bloating, passing gas, and acid reflux.[2]
Headaches, fatigue, and hair loss have also been reported in 5% to 9% of people taking Foundayo in clinical trials.[3]
These side effects usually become more noticeable at higher doses. But the good news is that they tend to improve over time as your body gets used to the medication or a new dose.
The above are common adverse reactions. For less common adverse reactions, check the patient insert that comes with your medication. Examples include:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Severe gastrointestinal problems
- Retinopathy (eye problems) in people with type 2 diabetes
- Kidney issues
- Low blood glucose levels
And if there’s anything unclear about your symptoms or side effects, double-check with a medical professional.
How effective is Foundayo for weight loss?
Clinical trials have found orforglipron, the active ingredient in Foundayo, to be very effective for weight loss when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.
Over 36 weeks, people taking the 12mg dose lost an average of 9.4% of their body weight (around 21.6lbs). By comparison, the placebo group lost an average of just 2.3% of their body weight, or around 5.3lbs.[4]
Another 72-week clinical trial has found that people taking the maximum 17.2mg dose of Foundayo lost an average of 11.1% of their body weight (around 25lbs). Lower doses have also led to significant results, with average body weight loss of 8.3% on the 9mg dose and 7.4% on the 5.5mg dose, while the placebo group only lost 2.1% of their body weight over the same period (5.3lbs).[5]
