Foundayo

What is Foundayo?

Foundayo is a tablet with the active ingredient orforglipron from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. It is intended for weight management in adults with obesity, or with overweight and at least one weight-related condition, in combination with a calorie-restricted diet and increased physical activity. Foundayo has been approved in the United States (April 2026) and the United Kingdom (August 2026). The drug is not yet registered in the Netherlands. You can find more about our medical approach in our treatment program.

Orforglipron (oral)

Orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is a small, non-peptide molecule, allowing it to be taken as a regular tablet. This is the difference with semaglutide in tablet form, which must be taken on an empty stomach and with a strict time window. Foundayo can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food and drink.

Foundayo for overweight and obesity

Foundayo is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce excess body weight and maintain achieved weight. In the UK, this applies to adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or sleep apnea. Additionally, it has been approved in the UK to improve blood sugar in inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.

Foundayo approval timeline

• 1 April 2026: Approved in the United States (FDA).
• 10 August 2026: Approved in the United Kingdom (MHRA).
• 15 October 2026: Positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
• Expected: Decision by the European Commission.
• Netherlands: Date as yet unknown.

Foundayo price

Since Foundayo is not yet registered in the Netherlands, no Dutch price is known. As soon as the drug becomes available, the price will be determined by the pharmacy.

Who is Foundayo suitable for?

Foundayo is intended for adults with:

• obesity;
• overweight and at least one weight-related condition.

Foundayo is not intended for use in combination with other GLP-1 medications and has not been studied in children.

Foundayo prescription

Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine. A BIG-registered doctor assesses whether the medicine is medically suitable and responsible for your situation.

Foundayo reimbursement

Reimbursement for Foundayo is not yet applicable, as Foundayo is not registered in the Netherlands. Inquire with your health insurer about current conditions as soon as the drug becomes available.

How Foundayo works

Foundayo contains orforglipron, which mimics the body's own GLP-1 hormone. In summary:

• acts on areas in the brain that regulate appetite;
• reduces the amount of food you eat;
• slows gastric emptying, making you feel full longer;
• weight loss mainly consists of fat mass.

The effect builds up gradually.

The substances in Foundayo

Foundayo is available as a tablet in six strengths: 0.8 mg, 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg. According to the US product information, it contains the active ingredient: orforglipron. Excipients: copovidone, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and anhydrous sodium carbonate; the film coating contains polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides.

How to use Foundayo?

• Always use as prescribed.
• Take 1 tablet daily, at any time of the day, with or without food.
• Swallow the tablet whole; do not break, crush, or chew.
• Never take more than 1 tablet per day.
• According to US product information, you start at 0.8 mg and gradually increase over at least 30 days per step to 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, and then possibly 9 mg, 14.5 mg, or 17.2 mg (maximum), depending on effect and tolerability.
• Store the tablets in their original packaging, protected from light.

Tips for using Foundayo

• Take Foundayo at the same time every day.
• Forgot a tablet? Take it as soon as possible, but never a double dose.
• Haven't taken a tablet for 7 days or more? Consult your doctor about restarting.
• Do not stop without consulting your doctor.
• Drink enough water, especially if you experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Foundayo or the Wegovy tablet?

Foundayo (orforglipron, Eli Lilly) and the Wegovy tablet (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk) are both daily weight-loss tablets that act on the GLP-1 receptor. The main difference is how they are taken. Foundayo can be taken at any time, with or without food. The Wegovy tablet should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach with up to 120 ml of water, followed by a 30-minute wait. Foundayo is available in six strengths (0.8 to 17.2 mg), whilst the Wegovy tablet comes in four (1.5 to 25 mg).

In studies, participants taking Foundayo lost 5 to 11 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks, whilst those taking the Wegovy tablet lost 13.6 to 16.6 per cent after 64 weeks. The medicines have not been directly compared, so these figures cannot be compared on a one-to-one basis. The side effects are similar for both: mainly nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation during the titration phase. The Wegovy tablet is expected in the Netherlands in November 2026. No date has yet been announced for Foundayo following the positive EMA opinion of 15 October 2026.

Foundayo Side Effects

Possible Side Effects of Foundayo

• Very common: nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal pain.
• Common: headache, bloating, belching, reflux, flatulence, fatigue, hair loss, dizziness, rapid heart rate.
• Uncommon to rare: gallstones, pancreatitis, allergic reaction, low blood sugar.

Gastrointestinal complaints primarily occur during dose escalation and decrease afterward.

Serious Side Effects – consult a doctor immediately

• severe abdominal pain that does not subside, sometimes radiating to the back (possibly pancreatitis);
• pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or jaundice (possibly gallbladder problems);
• persistent nausea, vomiting or diarrhea with dehydration symptoms;
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing;
• a lump or swelling in the neck, persistent hoarseness or difficulty swallowing;
• changes in vision (in type 2 diabetes);
• symptoms of low blood sugar, such as sweating, trembling, confusion, or heart palpitations.

Consult the leaflet for a complete overview.

Contraindications

Foundayo should not be used:

• in case of a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN 2 syndrome;
• in case of severe allergy to orforglipron or any of the excipients.
• Not recommended for severely delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis) or severe liver problems.

Caution when combining Foundayo with other medication

• Contraceptive pill: discuss a non-oral method or additional barrier method, up to 30 days after start and after each dose increase.
• Simvastatin: maximum 20 mg per day.
• Insulin or sulfonylurea derivatives: risk of low blood sugar; the dose may be adjusted.
• Planned surgery or sedation: report that you are using Foundayo.

Foundayo during pregnancy or breastfeeding

Use during pregnancy is discouraged; if pregnancy occurs, treatment should be stopped. Women who can become pregnant should use effective contraception. Breastfeeding is discouraged. Always discuss your situation with your doctor.