Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, a once daily weight loss tablet developed by Eli Lilly, the same company behind Mounjaro.
On 10 August 2026 the MHRA authorised it for weight management, making the UK the first country in Europe to license it. For anyone who has held back from treatment because of needles, Foundayo UK is the development worth understanding.
Everyone starts on the lowest dose. Your prescriber increases it in steps, and each step needs at least 30 days on the dose before it.
Initial consultation (new patients) - £200
Follow up consultations (if required) - £100
Foundayo is a prescription-only, once-daily weight loss tablet that contains orforglipron, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Foundayo is an oral pill that is swallowed whole at any time of day that is convenient for you. It is made by Eli Lilly, the same manufacturer as Mounjaro.
Unlike other weight loss pills, there are no fasting or water requirements when you take Foundayo because it is stable in stomach acid, making it a more flexible and convenient option for some people.
Foundayo’s active ingredient, orforglipron , works by binding to the GLP-1 receptors in the brain to mimic the effects of the naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1. So, Foundayo works to help you lose weight by:
- reducing your appetite
- slowing the time it takes for food to pass through the stomach
- regulating your blood sugar levels
These effects mean that Foundayo helps you snack less between meals, keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and prevents blood sugar crashes that can make you hungry. Together, this makes it easier for you to stick to a diet and exercise plan, which you will need to do to get the full benefit of Foundayo.
Foundayo is taken alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan, and is suitable for adults aged 18 and older with a body mass index (BMI) of:
- 30 or more
- 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related health condition, such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or obstructive sleep apnoea
Foundayo may not be suitable for everyone because certain health conditions or medications can interact with Foundayo and can make it less effective or potentially unsafe.
Do not take Foundayo if you are:
allergic to orforglipron or any other ingredients listed in the medication
pregnant or breastfeeding
Before taking Foundayo, let the doctor know if you:
- have or have ever had pancreatitis
- are using a sulfonylurea and/or insulin for diabetes
- have severe problems with food digestion or food staying in your stomach for longer than usual (severe gastroparesis)
- you have kidney problems because some Foundayo side effects, like feeling and being sick and diarrhoea, can cause dehydration
- are taking medication to manage high blood pressure
- have gallbladder problems
- have a problem with your eyes or vision
- are due to have surgery and require anaesthesia
- have or have had severe heart failure
Adults on the highest approved Foundayo dose lost around 11% of body weight on average over 72 weeks. The figure comes from the ATTAIN-1 clinical trial.
In a 72-week study of adults without diabetes, average weight loss was:
2.1% (5.3 lbs) for placebo.
7.4% (17.2 lbs) for 5.5 mg
8.3% (18.9 lbs) for 9 mg
11.1% (24.9 lbs) for 17.2 mg
In a 72-week study of adults with type 2 diabetes, average weight loss was:
2.5% (5.9 lbs) for placebo
5.1% (11.7 lbs) for 5.5 mg
7% (15.9 lbs) for 9 mg
9.6% (21.2 lbs) for 17.2 mg
Individual results may vary / Along with diet and exercise.
See further info
Foundayo is a once daily pill. You can take your daily dose at any time of the day, whenever is most convenient for you, with or without food. You should swallow the tablet whole, with some water if needed, but do not break, crush, or chew the tablet or take more than 1 pill per day.
Because Foundayo does not require special coatings to protect it from stomach acid and enhance its absorption into the bloodstream, like some other GLP-1 pills, it does not have any fasting restrictions you must follow before taking it. This makes taking Foundayo easier and more flexible for some people.
Foundayo pills are available in 6 dosages. You’ll begin on the starting dose of 0.8mg per day, which will be increased every 30 days, until you reach the maximum daily dose of 17.2mg.
The available Foundayo doses are:
Month 1 (starting dose) – 0.8mg
Month 2 – 2.5mg
Month 3 – 5.5mg
Month 4 – 9mg
Month 5 – 14.5mg
Month 6 (maximum dose) – 17.2mg
You may not need to take the maximum Foundayo dose. Your doctor will monitor how your body responds to orforglipron, whether you get any side effects, and consider your weight loss goals to help you find the lowest effective dose.
After taking Foundayo 0.8mg once daily for at least 30 days, the next dose is:
Foundayo 2.5mg once daily.
After at least another 30 days on 2.5mg, the dose may be increased to 5.5mg once daily.
From this point, further increases to 9mg, 14.5mg and 17.2mg are based on:
how well Foundayo is working
your appetite and weight response
how well you tolerate the medicine
whether you are experiencing side effects
your prescriber’s clinical judgement
There is therefore no requirement for every patient to progress all the way to 17.2mg.
Foundayo is intended to be a long-term weight loss treatment, with clinical trial participants taking it for at least 72 weeks. Your doctor will advise how long you may need to continue taking Foundayo for.
If you forget to take a Foundayo dose, take it as soon as you remember, but do not take more than one tablet per day. You should not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you miss 7 or more Foundayo pills in a row, speak to your doctor because you will need to restart your schedule at a lower dose to reduce the chance of side effects. Your doctor will advise you how to do this safely.
Taking too much Foundayo can make you feel sick or be sick. You must contact your doctor immediately for advice if you have taken too many Foundayo pills.
You should not just stop taking Foundayo without talking to your doctor first. Although GLP-1 medications, including Foundayo, do not cause withdrawal effects, without slowly reducing your dose, your appetite can return to previous levels, which increases the chance of weight gain. It can also cause your blood sugar levels to rise, which may be problematic if you have type 2 diabetes.
If you are thinking about stopping Foundayo, speak to your doctor who will advise you on the safest way to stop your treatment.
Yes, you can usually drink alcohol in moderation on Foundayo as there is no known interaction. However, it is best to avoid or limit your intake because alcohol can worsen or cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as feeling or being sick, or diarrhoea. It can also impact your blood sugar levels and contribute to your daily calorie intake without you realising.
It is common to still feel hungry on Foundayo, especially in the first few weeks when you are taking a lower dose to allow your body to get used to the medication and minimise the chance of side effects. The active ingredient, orforglipron, works gradually over time to regulate your appetite, so it can take several months for you to notice the full effects.
Foundayo also does not work on its own, so you will need to stick to a reduced calorie diet and commit to being more active. If you have not made adjustments to your lifestyle and are still feeling hungry, this may also be a reason why you’re not seeing the results you expected on Foundayo.
You can find a full list of side effects in the Foundayo patient information leaflet.
No, Foundayo is not available over the counter. You must have a valid prescription from a registered healthcare professional who will check to make sure Foundayo is safe and suitable for you.
Foundayo is a prescription-only medication, which means you must have a doctor’s approval to get it.
Initial consultation (new patients) - £200
Follow up consultations (if required) - £100
Foundayo 0.8 mg (30 tablets) - £100
Foundayo 2.5 mg (30 tablets) - £120
Foundayo 5.5 mg (30 tablets) - £150
Foundayo 9.0 mg (30 tablets) - £170
Foundayo 14.5 mg (30 tablets) - £190
Foundayo 17.2 mg (30 tablets) - £200
Key takeaways: switching from Mounjaro to Foundayo
• Different medicines: Foundayo is a newly approved once-daily, non-peptide oral GLP-1 tablet. Mounjaro is a once-weekly dual-action injection.
• Average results: Mounjaro produced higher average weight loss in clinical trials than Foundayo, though individual response varies.
• Why people switch: The usual driver is a needle-free, convenient daily routine rather than greater weight loss.
• Starting dose: Your Foundayo dose depends on your current Mounjaro strength. Patients on higher doses may not need to start from the lowest introductory tablet.
• Clinical review: Foundayo is MHRA-approved. GP Matters clinicians confirm whether a switch is safe and appropriate after a successful assessment.
Can you switch from Mounjaro to Foundayo?
Yes.
You can switch from Mounjaro to Foundayo, but these are prescription-only medicines, so it is not an automatic swap. You will need a medical review with our clinical team to confirm Foundayo is safe and appropriate for your current health status.
How do the weight-loss results compare?
If you are looking purely at maximum weight-loss potential, Mounjaro currently leads the field.
Because Mounjaro targets two hormones rather than one, it produced higher average weight loss in clinical trials. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, patients taking the highest dose of Mounjaro lost an average of around 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with around 3% with placebo.
In the ATTAIN-1 trial for Foundayo, patients taking the highest dose lost an average of around 11% of their body weight over 72 weeks using the treatment-regimen analysis, with headline efficacy estimand results reporting around 12%.
Around one in five patients taking the highest Foundayo dose still achieved at least 20% weight loss, so individual response can vary substantially.
These were separate clinical trials, not direct head-to-head comparisons. Based on the available evidence, Mounjaro appears to offer a stronger average weight-loss effect, although individual response and treatment adherence remain important.
Why would you switch from Mounjaro to Foundayo?
For most patients, the decision is driven by convenience, price, and lifestyle. If your primary goal is to lose the maximum amount of weight possible, Mounjaro is likely the better option. Foundayo still offers significant practical benefits.
You might prefer Foundayo if:
• You strongly dislike needles and prefer a simple daily tablet.
• You travel frequently and want a medication that does not require refrigeration.
• You find it easier to build a daily habit than to remember a weekly injection day.
• You have reached your target weight and want a convenient way to maintain progress long term.
You might prefer to stay on Mounjaro if:
• You still have a significant amount of weight you want to lose.
• You are currently tolerating your Mounjaro dose well and seeing good results.
• You prefer only thinking about your medication once a week.
How to switch safely from Mounjaro to Foundayo
Mounjaro and Foundayo use different active ingredients and delivery methods, so you cannot swap doses strength-for-strength.
When switching, GP Matters clinicians will assess your current Mounjaro dose, overall progress, and how well you have tolerated treatment so far.
Following the ATTAIN-MAINTAIN clinical trial and guidance from Eli Lilly, your starting Foundayo dose will be tailored to your current treatment level. Because your body has already built up a tolerance to GLP-1 medicines on Mounjaro, you may not need to start from the lowest introductory dose.
As a general guide for patients with mild or no side effects:
Current Mounjaro dose =============> Typical Foundayo starting dose
High (10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg weekly) ===> You may be able to transition directly to 9 mg daily
Mid-range (5 mg or 7.5 mg weekly) ===> Your clinician may start you on 2.5 mg or 5.5 mg daily
Low (2.5 mg weekly) ===> You will likely start on the introductory 0.8 mg daily dose
If you have been experiencing moderate or severe side effects on Mounjaro, your clinician will recommend a lower starting dose so your body can adapt more comfortably. Other medicines, medical conditions, and demographic details can also inform the decision.
You typically will not need a long washout period. You can usually take your first Foundayo tablet on the day you would normally have taken your next Mounjaro injection, provided it is within 14 days of your last dose.
Will you regain weight after switching?
Many patients worry that switching from a dual-action injection to a single-action pill will cause immediate weight regain. Early clinical evidence suggests this is unlikely, provided you remain consistent with treatment and lifestyle habits.
In the ATTAIN-MAINTAIN study, patients who switched from injectable incretin-based treatments to Foundayo maintained substantially more of their previous weight loss over 52 weeks than those switched to placebo.
The biggest risk of weight regain is stopping medical treatment entirely, rather than switching format. Staying engaged with the GP Matters clinical team and maintaining a healthy diet is the best way to protect your progress.
Managing side effects
Because both medicines act on GLP-1 receptors, they share a very similar side-effect profile.
The most common side effects when starting Foundayo or increasing your dose are gastrointestinal, including:
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Indigestion or stomach discomfort
These symptoms are usually mild and tend to settle as your body adjusts. If you experience severe or persistent side effects, contact the GP Matters clinical team for support.
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