Orforglipron tablets: What a GP wants you to know about the Foundayo pill

Reviewed by: Anish Bhalsod, Juniper’s Superintendent Pharmacist and Head of Pharmacy

‍

For women who’d like help managing their weight but have been put off by the idea of weekly injections, GLP-1 treatments might not have felt like a good fit. 

The new orforglipron tablet — also known by its brand name Foundayo — could change that. 

It’s not the first oral weight loss medication to hit the headlines — that would be the Wegovy tablet — but for some people, Foundayo may be a more attractive alternative. 

“Tablets are good news because they open up GLP-1 access to eligible people who are unable to use needles,” Dr. Simon Doyle, Juniper GP, explains.  And with Foundayo tablets, there’s a key difference: “With oral Wegovy you have to fast for 30 minutes before you take it, whereas with orforglipron you don’t.”

The best part of GLP-1 tablets becoming available in the US is “patient choice”, Dr. Doyle says.

“We’re now getting to the point with GLP-1 medications where there are lots of options, which is great, but it’s even more important to go with a provider like Juniper who can guide you through your choices,” he adds.

With this in mind, let’s find out more about Orforglipron tablets, plus get the latest on when they might be available in the UK, with more insights from Dr. Doyle.

What are orforglipron tablets? 

Orforglipron tablets are a new weight loss medication that you take orally, once a day [1]. Orforglipron is the name of the active ingredient in the pills. You may also hear them referred to by their brand name: Foundayo. 

The Foundayo pill is currently only available in the US as a prescription drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in April 2026 for adults living with obesity, or who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition [2]. 

The FDA says orforglipron can help with excess weight loss and long-term weight management, but that it must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.  

A clinical trial looking at how effective the drug is was published in the journal Nature Medicine in May 2026 [3]. The research was funded by the manufacturer of the drug Eli Lilly, which also makes the weight loss injection Mounjaro. The findings suggest that Foundayo might solve one of the biggest pain points associated with injectable GLP-1s: It may help people maintain their weight loss after coming off the injections. 

So what’s the deal in the UK? Right now, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reviewing GLP-1 tablets. 

“For all medications, the MHRA makes its assessment based on safety, quality and efficacy,” Dr. Doyle explains. “We are expecting an update about oral Wegovy at some point over the summer, and anticipate that orforglipron will follow later this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Foundayo come to the UK during 2026.”

How do orforglipron tablets work in the body?

Orforglipron tablets are a type of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. They work in a similar way to the injectable weight loss medications Wegovy, Saxenda, and Ozempic.

GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone that your body naturally makes in the gut. This hormone helps regulate your blood sugar, slows down your digestion, makes you feel fuller for longer, and suppresses your appetite [4]. They can also reduce cravings and what’s known as ‘food noise’, meaning you’re likely to consume fewer calories [5].

“Orforglipron works similarly; it attaches to the GLP-1 receptors but is built slightly differently, meaning it is less susceptible to being broken down in the stomach,” explains Dr. Doyle. 

Regardless of which GLP-1 medication you take, remember that these drugs aren’t meant to be used as a solo fix for weight loss or long-term, sustainable weight management. They need to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise.

When will the orforglipron tablet be available in the UK?

Since the Foundayo pill was approved in the US, many people have been keen to know the orforglipron UK release date. 

There is currently no date set for the orforglipron UK launch, although Dr. Doyle says “we expect it to happen at some point in 2026”. That could mean a few months or the end of the year — we just don’t know yet.

Why? Well the MHRA is currently reviewing the tablets from a safety and efficacy POV, and it’s unclear how long this will take. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) then needs to decide if the new weight loss tablets are an affordable option for the NHS.

The good news is that private providers, like Juniper, “will be able to offer the pills as soon as they are approved for use in the UK”, according to Dr. Doyle. “As with our current processes, we will only be able to offer the pills to those who meet the clinical criteria.”

How much will orforglipron cost?

The idea of injecting a medication is a common barrier to treatment for many women, as is the potentially life-long cost. So if you’re wondering what the orforglipron UK expected price is, and whether it could be more affordable than weight loss injections, you’re not alone. 

Again, the details aren’t clear at the moment. “We haven’t had confirmation on pricing yet from the pharmaceutical companies,” Dr. Doyle explains. “But it is likely to be similar to injections. The NHS is likely to continue to prioritise roll-out based on strict criteria when the pills do become available.”

In the meantime, the Juniper programme already provides eligible women with access to GLP-1 medications, health coaching, and ongoing clinical support, so you don't have to wait to get started.

If you want to find out more about how GLP-1 treatment could help you manage your weight, you can complete an online assessment to check your eligibility.

Who are the new orforglipron tablets for?

If the MHRA and NICE grant approval for Foundayo in the UK, they will also release guidance on who the medication is suitable and safe for.

In the US, the FDA has approved it for adults who are living with obesity or who are overweight and are living with one or more weight-related health conditions [2]. But we won’t know the specifics until a decision is reached in the UK.

Dr. Doyle says he “suspects the eligibility criteria will be the same as the GLP-1 injections we have now, but we need to wait and see”.

Who should not take orforglipron tablets?

In the US, the FDA has released guidance on who shouldn’t take the Foundayo tablet [2]. 

First up, they can’t be taken in combination with another GLP-1 receptor agonist. They’re also not safe for people who currently have or have a family history of:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Acute gallbladder disease
• Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation

They should not be used if you have, or there is a family history of:

• Medullary thyroid cancer
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)

Remember that orforglipron tablets are not authorised for use in the UK right now. The medicines regulator will issue their own list of contraindications if, and when, they approve oral GLP-1s. 

How to take orforglipron tablets (dosing and daily routine)

Information on how to take Foundayo won’t be available unless and until it’s approved in the UK. However, in the US, the guidance from the manufacturer says [6]:

• Take Foundayo exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Use Foundayo with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
• Take Foundayo by mouth once per day, with or without food.
• Swallow tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew them.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Do not take two doses of Foundayo on the same day.
• Do not take more than one tablet per day.
• If you miss taking Foundayo for seven or more days in a row, call your healthcare provider to talk about how to restart your treatment.
• If you take too much Foundayo, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Like the injections, the FDA has said that the tablets follow a gradual dose titration. This means the Foundayo first dose starts small and slowly builds up over a course of a few months. This helps to minimise side effects and gives the body time to adjust to the medication.

Here’s how the dosage works in the US [2]:

• Starting dosage is 0.8 mg
• After at least 30 days, this should be increased to 2.5 mg
• After another 30 days, this should be increased to 5.5 mg
• The dosage may be increased further to 9 mg, 14.5 mg, or 17.2 mg after at least 30 days at each level based on treatment response and tolerability.
• The maximum dosage is 17.2mg daily.

Remember that guidance and dosages may differ if it becomes available in the UK. We won’t know for sure until the MHRA makes a decision.

How effective are orforglipron tablets for weight loss?

As with many new drugs, the research is in its early days, and we don’t have any long-term data yet. However, as Dr. Doyle points out, “these medications are already launched in other markets, so we are getting what we call ‘real world evidence’ which builds on what we know from clinical trials”.  

Speaking of clinical trials, two in particular give us a sneak peek at how effective Foundayo could be for weight loss and longer-term weight management. 

In a 2025 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, obese and overweight participants with type 2 diabetes who took the maximum dose of Foundayo (in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity) had lost 11.2% of their body weight after 72 weeks [7]. The FDA classifies this as statistically significant and clinically meaningful weight loss [2].

The 2026 Nature Medicine study suggests that Foundayo could be pretty effective at helping people maintain their weight loss once they stop GLP-1 injections [3]. Participants who came off the jabs and took Foundayo maintained up to 80% of their weight loss. Those who were given a placebo maintained around 38-50%.

More research is needed here, but the initial results are looking promising.

Side effects and safety of orforglipron tablets

As with any medication, Foundayo comes with some potential side effects. The Nature Medicine study found that side effects were common, but mostly mild [3].

“The evidence seems to show that side effects for oral Wegovy, and orforglipron are very similar to those of injectable GLP-1 medications,” Dr. Doyle says.

 According to the FDA, side effects of orforglipron medication can include [2]:

• Nausea 
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Swollen or distended abdomen
• Belly pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Burping
• Farting
• Heartburn or acid reflux as a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Hair loss

The Foundayo label also contains warnings and precautions for more serious, albeit less common, side effects, including:

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Severe gastrointestinal reactions
• Acute kidney injuries
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Hypersensitivity
• Diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eye’s retina) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Acute gallbladder disease
• Pulmonary aspiration during general anaesthesia or deep sedation

All medications can cause side effects. That’s why it’s so important to speak to a doctor for health and medication advice tailored to your body and your medical history. 

Remember, too, that orforglipron or Foundayo tablets aren’t available in the UK right now. Anyone advertising these pills online is breaking the law. Taking counterfeit drugs can cause serious health problems and even death.

What are the main differences between orforglipron (Foundayo) tablets and Wegovy tablets

“From a patient perspective, there are a few main differences between Foundayo and Wegovy tablets,” Dr. Doyle explains. They are:

• How and when you take them: “With Wegovy, you have to fast for 30 minutes before you take them, whereas Foundayo can be taken with or without food,” Dr. Doyle explains. In fact, the US guidance around how and when to take Wegovy is strict: Wegovy tablets must be taken with no more than 120ml of water and on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking. “If you don't stick to the 30-minute fasting window, some of the drug won’t be absorbed well, so you won’t get a full dose, and you’re therefore not likely to get the full benefits,” Dr. Doyle says. 
• Dosages: In the US, the Foundayo starting dose is 0.8mg and gradually increases to a maximum of 17.2mg, whereas the Wegovy tablet starting dose is 1.5mg with a maximum of 25mg. Both are gradually increased in 30-day increments. “I suspect the dosage will likely be the same or similar [in the UK], but we will have to wait for further updates,” Dr. Doyle says. 
• Effectiveness: “People achieved more weight loss with Wegovy,” Dr. Doyle says. Early trials suggest that the average overall weight loss with Foundayo is 11.2% of starting body weight [7], whereas it’s 13.6% with the Wegovy pill [8]. “In light of the evidence so far, my advice would be to start on injectables for weight loss and then switch to Foundayo, or start on Wegovy,” Dr. Doyle says. “But more research is needed here.”

Frequently asked questions

What is orforglipron used for?

According to the FDA in the US, where the drug is approved, orforglipron uses include weight loss and maintaining weight loss. Right now in the US, it can be used by adults who are living with obesity, or who are overweight and have one or more medical conditions that are weight-related.

Where can I buy orforglipron in the UK? Is it available on the NHS? 

Orforglipron hasn’t been approved in the UK yet, which means it’s not possible to buy it at the moment. If the MHRA approves the tablets, they may become available through the NHS with a prescription for certain patients and for purchase through a private provider such as Juniper. NICE will decide if GLP-1 tablets, like Foundayo, should be available on the NHS and who can access them.

Can you switch between weight loss injections and GLP1 tablets? 

“Yes, we have recent evidence showing good results for those using injections to achieve goal weight and switching to pills for maintenance,” Dr. Doyle says. “There’s no studies around switching between injections and tablets for weight loss alone just yet.”

What is the orforglipron UK price?

As orforglipron isn’t approved for use in the UK yet, it isn’t available to buy and therefore doesn’t have a set price. 

“We haven’t had confirmation on pricing yet from the pharmaceutical companies,” Dr. Doyle explains. “But it is likely to be similar to GLP-1 injections.”