What is Foundayo? The once-daily pill, properly explained
Foundayo (orforglipron) is the UK's newest weight loss medicine: a daily tablet approved by the MHRA on 10 August 2026. Here's what it is, who it's for, and what the evidence genuinely shows, all in plain English.
Last verified: 11 August 2026, against the official MHRA announcement
The short version
Foundayo is a prescription only tablet taken once a day to help adults lose weight and keep it off, used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It contains orforglipron, made by Eli Lilly, the company behind Mounjaro. The MHRA has also licensed it to improve blood sugar control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
Two things make it genuinely new. First, it's a pill, not an injection. Second, unlike the Wegovy tablet, it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food, and with no rules about water or waiting before breakfast. For a lot of people that's the difference between a routine that sticks and one that doesn't.
How it works
Foundayo is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. In everyday terms, it mimics a natural gut hormone (GLP-1) that your body releases after eating. That acts on the appetite centres of the brain, helping you feel fuller sooner and for longer, dampening hunger and cravings, so you naturally eat less. In type 2 diabetes it also helps lower blood sugar when it's high.
The technical difference from other GLP-1 medicines is that orforglipron is a small molecule rather than a peptide. Peptides are broken down by the stomach, which is why most GLP-1 medicines are injections and why the Wegovy tablet comes with strict empty-stomach rules. A small molecule doesn't have that problem, which is what makes Foundayo's "any time, with or without food" dosing possible.
Who the MHRA has licensed it for
Alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, Foundayo is authorised for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults with:
- a BMI of 30 or above (obesity), or
- a BMI between 27 and 30 (overweight) plus at least one weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
It's separately authorised to improve glycaemic control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes. It is not licensed for cosmetic weight loss, it should not be combined with any other GLP-1 medicine, and it is not known to be safe or effective in children. Whether you're eligible is always a decision for a qualified prescriber after a proper consultation, never a website quiz alone. Want to see where your own number sits against the licence, and why thresholds are lower for some ethnic backgrounds? Use our BMI calculator and eligibility guide.
Not on the NHS yet
MHRA approval makes Foundayo legal to prescribe privately in the UK. NHS availability is a separate question that goes through a NICE evaluation, which follows the established process for new treatments. Until that concludes, expect private prescriptions only.
What the trials actually showed
The headline evidence comes from the ATTAIN Phase 3 programme, published in leading medical journals. The numbers below are 72-week averages, taken alongside diet and activity changes, and individual results vary widely in both directions.
ATTAIN-1: adults with obesity, without diabetes
- 17.2 mg dose: 11.1% average weight loss
- 9 mg dose: 8.3% average weight loss
- 5.5 mg dose: 7.4% average weight loss
- Placebo: 2.1% average weight loss
ATTAIN-2: adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes
- 17.2 mg dose: 9.6% average weight loss
- 9 mg dose: 7% average weight loss
- 5.5 mg dose: 5.1% average weight loss
- Placebo: 2.5% average weight loss
Honest context: those averages are meaningful, but they're lower than the averages seen in trials of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections. Some people will happily trade a few percentage points for never touching a needle and having zero food rules; others will prioritise maximum effect. Both are legitimate choices to discuss with a prescriber.
It's also worth knowing that in ATTAIN-1, between 5.3% and 10.3% of people taking Foundayo stopped treatment because of side effects, compared with 2.7% on placebo. Our side effects guide covers what to expect and how to manage it.
How Foundayo compares with the other UK options
| Medicine | Form | Active ingredient | Food rules | UK prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundayo | Tablet, once daily | Orforglipron (small-molecule GLP-1) | None: any time, with or without food | Not yet released: tracked here on Frayo |
| Mounjaro | Injection, once weekly | Tirzepatide (GIP and GLP-1) | None | Compare live prices on Monj |
| Wegovy injection | Injection, once weekly | Semaglutide (GLP-1) | None | Compare live prices on iGovy |
| Wegovy pill | Tablet, once daily | Semaglutide (GLP-1) | Empty stomach, limited water, wait before eating | Compare live prices on Ogovy |
Comparison of licensed characteristics only, not a recommendation. Trial results across medicines aren't directly comparable because studies differ in design and populations. Talk it through with a prescriber.
Check the official sources yourself
We'd genuinely rather you verified than took our word for it:
- MHRA authorisation announcement (10 August 2026)
- The Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet, due on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval
- GPhC pharmacy register for verifying any pharmacy
- NICE for NHS evaluation progress