When will the Foundayo pill be available in the UK?

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 Foundayo pill — containing the oral-only active ingredient Orforglipron — could change that. 

Foundayo is a new GLP-1 tablet from Eli Lilly, the makers of Mounjaro. The UK’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, announced on 10th August 2026 that it had approved this new prescription drug as an obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment¹, making the UK the first country in Europe to authorise its use¹.

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

“With oral Wegovy you have to fast for 30 minutes before you take it, whereas with orforglipron you don’t,” Dr. Simon Doyle, Juniper GP, explains.

“The best part of GLP-1 tablets becoming available 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 now 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 learn more about Foundayo tablets, plus get the latest on when they might be available in the UK, with insights from Dr. Doyle.

What are Foundayo tablets? 

Foundayo tablets are a new weight loss medication that you take orally, once a day¹. You might have also heard people call them ‘orforglipron pills’; orforglipron is the name of the active ingredient in the tablet. 

Like other GLP-1 medications, they work by mimicking the natural glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) hormone found in the gut that helps to regulate hunger and appetite. More on the science below.

A clinical trial looking at how effective the drug is was published in the journal Nature Medicine in May 2026⁴. 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. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Foundayo in April 2026 for adults living with obesity, or who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition ³. 

On 10th August 2026, the FDA’s UK equivalent — the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency or MHRA — followed suit, authorising the tablets on prescription for adults with¹:

• A BMI of 30 or above
• A BMI of between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related health condition
• Insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes

The MHRA 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 activity¹.

When will the Foundayo pill be available in the UK?

Since the Foundayo pill is now approved in the UK, many people are keen to know when it will become available. 

There is currently no date set for the orforglipron UK launch, although Dr. Doyle says “we expect the timeline from MHRA approval to launch to be much like the Wegovy pill, around three to four weeks”.

If these assumptions are correct then private providers, like Juniper, may be able to start offering the Foundayo pill to eligible patients who meet the clinical criteria from mid September 2026.

Will Foundayo be available on the NHS?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently deciding whether the Foundayo pill is an affordable option for weight loss on the NHS. A final decision is expected in November 2026⁵.

How much will the Foundayo pill 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 Foundayo pill 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 Eli Lilly,” Dr. Doyle explains. “But it is likely to be similar to injections.”

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?

The MHRA has released some guidance around who the medication is suitable and safe for now that the drug is approved in the UK.

Eligibility is the same as for weight loss injections and the Wegovy pill. Doctors can only prescribe Foundayo to adults with¹:

• A BMI of 30 or above
• A BMI of between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related health condition

In some circumstances, the pill may also be available on NHS prescription for people with “insufficiently controlled” type 2 diabetes.

Who should not take Foundayo pills?

The MHRA is yet to share information on who shouldn’t take Foundayo tablets. Their website says that they will publish patient information leaflets in the coming weeks¹.

How to take Foundayo tablets (dosing and daily routine)

The MHRA is due to publish further patient health information for the Foundayo pill in the coming weeks. However, in the US, the guidance from the manufacturer says²:

• 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 take too much Foundayo, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

The MHRA has said that the tablets follow a gradual dose titration, like weight loss injections. 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 will work¹:

• 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.

How effective are Foundayo 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, “the initial clinical trials show that these medications work, and they 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 weeks⁶. 

The 2026 Nature Medicine study suggests that Foundayo could be pretty effective at helping people maintain their weight loss once they stop GLP-1 injections⁴. Participants who came off the jabs and took Foundayo maintained up to 75%-79% of their weight loss. Those who were given a placebo maintained around 38-49%.

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

Side effects and safety of Foundayo tablets

As with any medication, Foundayo comes with some potential side effects. The Nature Medicine study found that side effects were common, but mostly mild⁴.

“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 MHRA, side effects of orforglipron medication can include¹:

• Nausea 
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Indigestion
• Abdominal pain

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 the Wegovy pill, 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 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: The Foundayo starting dose is 0.8mg and gradually increases to a maximum of 17.2mg¹, whereas the Wegovy tablet starting dose is 1.5mg with a maximum of 25mg. Both are gradually increased in 30-day increments. 

Effectiveness: “Clinically the evidence suggests most weight loss is achieved with injections, but oral Wegovy and Foundayo are effective tools for maintenance or for weight loss in those who would prefer a tablet,” Dr. Doyle says. 

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FAQ

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What is orforglipron used for?

The UK medicines regulator has approved orforglipron for weight loss, maintaining weight loss, and managing type 2 diabetes. Doctors can only prescribe Foundayo to adults living with obesity (BMI of 30 or above), or those who are overweight (BMI of between 27 and 30) with one or more weight-related medical conditions.

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Where can I buy Foundayo tablets in the UK? Is the pill available on the NHS?

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Orforglipron has just been approved as a weight loss treatment in the UK by the medicines regulator. There’s no official launch date yet but private providers, like Juniper, will be able to offer the Foundayo pill to eligible patients once the tablets become available. GLP-1s like Foundayo are already available on the NHS for type 2 diabetes. NICE will decide if Foundayo should be available on the NHS for weight loss later this year.

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Can you switch between weight loss injections and GLP1 tablets?

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“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.

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What is the Foundayo pill UK price?

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“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 and the Wegovy pill.”

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References:

¹ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-first-in-europe-to-authorise-orforglipron-for-weight-management-and-type-2-diabetes
² https://foundayo.lilly.com/
³ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-new-molecular-entity-under-national-priority-voucher-program
⁴ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04386-7‍

⁵ https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11650

⁶ https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2511774

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