Updated on · Written by the Evitalink team · 9 min read
Since its approval in the United States, Foundayo has raised many questions: how does this weight loss pill work? How much weight can you expect to lose? What are the side effects? How much does it cost, and can you get it in the UK, Europe or Morocco? Here are clear, sourced answers, with no miracle promises.
Foundayo (orforglipron) is a GLP-1 tablet made by Eli Lilly, approved in the United States on 1 April 2026 and in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2026. It is taken once a day, at any time, with or without food. In the ATTAIN-1 trial, the highest dose led to an average weight loss of 11.1% over 72 weeks, compared with 2.1% on placebo. As of 29 September 2026, it is not marketed in the European Union and, to our knowledge, not in Morocco.
- Who is it for? Adults with obesity, or with overweight and a weight-related condition, on prescription only.
- Side effects: mostly digestive (nausea, constipation, diarrhoea).
- Beware of websites selling “Foundayo pills” without a prescription: high risk of counterfeits.
- In the meantime, a medical check-up helps you choose an approved treatment suited to your profile.
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is the brand name of orforglipron, a medicine developed by the American company Eli Lilly, already known for Mounjaro. It belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist family, like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, it is used to reduce excess weight and keep it off long term in adults who have:
- obesity (BMI of 30 or more);
- or overweight (BMI between 27 and 30) with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea or high cholesterol.
In the United Kingdom, it is also authorised to improve blood sugar control in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.
What makes it new: it is a small, non-peptide molecule. Unlike semaglutide tablets, which must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, Foundayo can be taken at any time, with or without food. It does not need to be refrigerated either.
How does orforglipron work?
Orforglipron mimics GLP-1, a hormone your gut naturally releases after a meal. By activating its receptors, it works in three ways:
- it slows down stomach emptying, so digestion takes longer;
- it increases the feeling of fullness: you feel satisfied sooner and for longer;
- it regulates appetite in the brain, which reduces cravings and snacking.
As a result, you naturally eat less without constantly fighting hunger. The medicine does not replace a balanced diet and regular exercise, though: it supports them.
How much weight can you lose with Foundayo?
Foundayo's effectiveness was assessed in the ATTAIN clinical trial programme. In the ATTAIN-1 trial, run over 72 weeks in adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes, weight loss increased with the dose:
| Group (ATTAIN-1, 72 weeks) | Average weight loss |
|---|---|
| Foundayo, doses studied | 7.4% to 11.1% |
| Foundayo 17.2 mg (highest dose) | 11.1%, about 11 kg |
| Highest dose, treatment completed | 12.4% |
| Placebo | 2.1% |
Sources: FDA prescribing information and Eli Lilly press release (April 2026). Clinical trial averages: individual results vary widely.
Researchers also observed reductions in waist circumference, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. In the head-to-head ACHIEVE-3 trial in people with diabetes, orforglipron led to almost twice as much weight loss as semaglutide tablets (9.2% vs 5.3%).
How to take Foundayo
Treatment starts at a low dose and increases in steps to limit digestive side effects. Your doctor always decides the pace.
- Start at 0.8 mg a day for at least 30 days.
- Gradual increase in steps (2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg) depending on tolerance and response.
- Maintenance dose of up to 17.2 mg a day.
- Regular medical follow-up: weight, digestive tolerance, hydration and, for people with diabetes, blood sugar.
Swallow the tablet whole, without splitting, crushing or chewing it. Take one tablet a day, ideally at the same time so you don't forget.
Side effects and contraindications
The most common side effects
Like all GLP-1 medicines, Foundayo mainly causes digestive side effects, often at the start of treatment or when the dose goes up: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, reflux, bloating, wind and burping. Headache, tiredness and hair loss have also been reported.
Rarer but serious risks
The prescribing information lists risks of pancreatitis, severe gastrointestinal problems, acute kidney injury due to dehydration, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar and allergic reactions. In people with type 2 diabetes, retinopathy should be monitored.
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer.
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2).
- Pregnancy: the medicine may harm an unborn baby.
- Combining it with another GLP-1 (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro…): not recommended.
See a doctor promptly if you have severe, persistent abdominal pain, heavy vomiting or a lump in your neck.
Foundayo, Wegovy or Mounjaro: what are the differences?
All three treatments act on the hormones that control fullness, but they are taken very differently.
| Criterion | Foundayo | Wegovy | Mounjaro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molecule | Orforglipron | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
| Hormones targeted | GLP-1 | GLP-1 | GLP-1 and GIP |
| Form | Daily tablet | Weekly injection or tablet | Weekly injection |
| How to take it | No restrictions, any time | Tablet on an empty stomach, little water | Injection pen |
| Storage | Room temperature | Pens refrigerated before first use | Pens refrigerated before first use |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
Available forms and approved uses vary by country: always check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- you cannot tolerate injections;
- you travel often and want a treatment that needs no refrigeration;
- your mealtimes are irregular and taking a tablet on an empty stomach would be difficult;
- you meet the medical criteria (BMI, weight-related condition) and have no contraindications.
Injectable treatments generally lead to greater weight loss. The right choice depends on your medical profile, not on a social media trend.
How much does Foundayo cost?
In the United States, Eli Lilly sells Foundayo directly from $149 a month for the lowest dose, with the price rising at higher doses. The standard pharmacy price, without a savings programme, is considerably higher.
In the United Kingdom, Foundayo is authorised but not yet available on the NHS, pending a NICE decision; access is expected through private prescription first. In the European Union and in Morocco, there is no official price yet, as the medicine is not marketed there.
Is Foundayo available in the UK, Europe and Morocco?
In the United Kingdom
The MHRA authorised Foundayo on 10 August 2026, making the UK the first European country to approve it, for weight management and type 2 diabetes. It remains a prescription-only medicine and is not yet funded by the NHS.
In the European Union
Not yet. For France, Spain, Belgium and the rest of the EU, approval depends on the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Several industry sources expect it to arrive in 2027.
In Morocco and Africa
As of 29 September 2026, no official launch of Foundayo in Morocco has been announced. Eli Lilly has filed for approval in around forty countries: this may change, and we will update this article.
- A website selling Foundayo without a prescription, or in a country where it is not approved, is very likely offering a counterfeit product.
- Fake weight loss medicines can contain the wrong dose or dangerous substances.
- A GLP-1 treatment always requires a medical assessment and follow-up.
Getting support in Morocco while you wait for Foundayo
There is no need to wait for a new medicine to take action. Other options already exist to lose weight for good, and it all starts with a full medical check-up: it helps identify the causes of excess weight, screen for complications (diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnoea) and choose the most suitable treatment.
Evitalink connects you with partner doctors in Morocco working in modern clinics in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech. Depending on your situation, the specialist may offer:
- a full health check-up with tests and a consultation;
- personalised nutrition support and an exercise programme;
- an already-approved medicine, if your profile justifies it;
- an opinion on weight loss surgery for cases that need it.
Our advisers arrange your appointments, accommodation and transfers, and send the medical report to your GP once you are home.
Frequently asked questions
Review your weight with a specialist
Send us your age, weight, height and medical history: a partner doctor reviews your file and suggests a tailored check-up, with a detailed quote. Reply within 24 hours.
Sources & references:
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): approval announcement for Foundayo (orforglipron), April 2026
• FOUNDAYO (orforglipron) tablets prescribing information, FDA / DailyMed, 2026
• Eli Lilly and Company: press release, 1 April 2026 (ATTAIN-1 trial, LillyDirect pricing)
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), GOV.UK: UK authorisation of orforglipron, 10 August 2026
• The Lancet: ACHIEVE-3 trial, orforglipron vs oral semaglutide, February 2026
Regulatory status and prices checked on 29 September 2026; they may change. Evitalink does not sell medicines. This article is general information and does not replace a consultation. Any treatment decision rests with a qualified doctor after examination.
