Eli Lilly’s Obesity Pill
There’s more competition in the fast-growing obesity treatment market now that Eli Lilly has introduced its once-daily GLP-1 pill.
Lilly’s Foundayo (orforglipron) is the second pill approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat obesity. In December, the agency approved a pill form of the blockbuster drug Wegovy, manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
Foundayo is a GLP-1 medication used for weight management in adults who have obesity or are overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the small intestine after eating. Foundayo mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone, which reduces hunger, increases fullness, and slows stomach emptying.
Foundayo is also intended to be used along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to lose excess body weight and maintain that weight loss over time.
“Today, fewer than 1 in 10 people who could benefit from a GLP-1 are taking one, held back by access, stigma, perceived complexity or the belief that their condition isn’t serious enough for treatment,” David A. Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, said in a news release. “We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for those living with obesity or who are overweight and living with weight-related complications.”
Although Lilly manufactures the blockbuster injectable weight-loss drug, Zepbound, the company did not turn Zepbound’s main ingredient into pill form. Lilly instead developed a new ingredient called orforglipron, which acts like the peptides found in injectable weight-loss drugs, but is not a peptide.
In April, the FDA approved Foundayo through the agency’s expedited National Priority Voucher program, which speeds the review of certain high-priority drug applications that serve important U.S. public health or national interests.
“This approval demonstrates what the FDA can achieve when we eliminate delays and prioritize fast and thorough work from the agency and industry partners,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary said in a news release.
In approving Foundayo, the FDA noted that data from Lilly’s clinical trial showed that individuals who took the highest dose and stayed on treatment for 72 weeks lost an average of 27.3 pounds (12.4%) of their body weight, compared with 2.2 pounds (0.9%) for those who received a placebo.
Additionally, trial participants who took Foundayo, whether or not they completed treatment, lost an average of 25 pounds (11.1%) of their body weight, compared with 5.3 pounds (2.1%) for those who received a placebo.
During the Phase 3 trials, Lilly tested Foundayo in capsule form at doses up to 36 mg. The FDA approved Foundayo in tablet form, with doses up to 17.2 mg, which Lilly stated are equivalent to the capsule doses.
Foundayo, which is taken orally once a day, can cause common side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain, similar to other GLP-1 drugs.
Novo Nordisk Touts Its Wegovy Pill
Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Novo Nordisk, based in Denmark, have fueled the growth in the obesity drug market with their injectable GLP-1 medications. The companies are moving into a new chapter with their pill-based options.
Although daily oral treatments are generally viewed as less effective than weekly injections, they are likely to be popular because many people do not like to use needles. Additionally, pills are easy to distribute and do not need cold storage.
Novo’s Wegovy has been widely popular since its official launch in January. In terms of its effectiveness, Novo said that the Wegovy pill resulted in a 13.6% weight loss in a 64-week Phase 3 trial, which was slightly higher than the 11.2% percent weight loss seen in Lilly’s 72-week trial for Foundayo.
Novo believes there’s a lot more proof that its pill is safe because it contains the same ingredient as injectable Wegovy, which has been around for several years.
The Wegovy pill is also approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, since a large study proved that the Wegovy injection is effective for such treatment.
However, Foundayo does not have the restrictions that Wegovy has. For example, the Wegovy pill is an oral peptide, which is harder for the body to absorb. It must be taken in the morning at least 30 minutes before any food or drinks other than water. Lilly says Foundayo is the only GLP-1 pill for weight loss that can be taken any time of day, without food or water restrictions.
”People living with obesity need treatment options that meet them where they are – and for many, a once-daily pill that can be taken with no food or water restrictions can offer them greater flexibility in how they approach their treatment,” said Dr. Deborah Horn, director of the Center for Obesity Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Price is also a factor with the GLP-1 pills from Novo and Lilly. Last year, Lilly announced plans to sell Foundayo from $149 a month to $399 a month in the cash market, where individuals buy drugs directly without using insurance. Novo then launched the Wegovy pill at a cash price of up to $299 per month. After Novo’s move, Lilly said it would sell Foundayo for up to $299 per month if patients renew their prescriptions.
After launching its new GLP-1 pill in the United States, Lilly said that it has submitted orforglipron for weight management and/or type 2 diabetes in more than 40 countries and plans to launch in each country shortly after approval.
Source Links:
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/01/eli-lilly-obesity-pill-approved-orforglipron-foundayo/?utm_campaign=rss&utm_source=flatplan
https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-lillys-foundayotm-orforglipron-only-glp-1-pill
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-new-molecular-entity-under-national-priority-voucher-program
