Foundayo (orforglipron, Eli Lilly) and the Wegovy pill (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk) are both once-daily GLP-1 pills approved for weight management, but Foundayo can be taken with or without food, while the Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a 30 minute wait before eating. In separate label trials, the top Foundayo dose averaged 11.1% weight loss at 72 weeks and the 25 mg Wegovy pill 13.6% at 64 weeks; they have not been compared head to head on their labels. Both cost $149 to $299 a month self-pay and $50 on Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge.
- $149Foundayo, 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg, self-pay
- $199Foundayo, 5.5 mg, self-pay
- $299Foundayo, 9 mg, self-pay
On this page
Prices at a glance
- Foundayo, 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg, self-pay$149
- Foundayo, 5.5 mg, self-pay$199
- Foundayo, 9 mg, self-pay$299
- Foundayo, 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg, self-pay$299 to $349
- Wegovy pill, self-pay$149 to $299
- Wegovy pen, self-pay$199 to $399
- Zepbound KwikPen, self-pay$299 to $449
- Commercial insurance with savings offer$25
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge$50
Side by side
foundayo
- $1492.5 mg is temporarily reduced from $199 through December 31, 2026
- $199Temporarily reduced from $299 through December 31, 2026
- $299
- Foundayo, 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg, self-pay[2]$299 to $349$299 with a refill within 45 days; $349 regular price
wegovy
Applies to both
Prices are national ranges from the sources listed below. Your price depends on your provider, location and case; confirm the cost with your provider before treatment. How we get these prices
Foundayo vs Wegovy pill side by side
| Foundayo | Wegovy pill | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Orforglipron[6] | Semaglutide[7] |
| Maker | Eli Lilly[6] | Novo Nordisk[3] |
| How it works | GLP-1 receptor agonist; a small molecule, non-peptide pill[6][9] | GLP-1 receptor agonist[7] |
| How you take it | Once daily, with or without food; swallow whole[6] | Once daily on an empty stomach in the morning with up to 4 ounces of plain water; wait at least 30 minutes before food, drinks or other oral medicines[7] |
| Doses | 0.8 mg for at least 30 days, then 2.5 mg, then 5.5 mg; 9 mg, 14.5 mg or 17.2 mg if needed, each after at least 30 days[6] | 1.5 mg for 30 days, then 4 mg, 9 mg and the 25 mg maintenance dose, every 30 days[7] |
| FDA-approved uses | Weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition[6] | Weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition; lowering heart attack, stroke and heart death risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight[7] |
| Label trial weight loss | 11.1% at 72 weeks on 17.2 mg vs 2.1% on placebo (no diabetes); 9.6% vs 2.5% (type 2 diabetes)[6] | 13.6% at 64 weeks on 25 mg vs 2.4% on placebo[7] |
| Self-pay price | $149 to $299 a month, or $349 for the top doses without an on-time refill[1][2] | $149 to $299 a month[3] |
| Savings with commercial coverage | As little as $25[1] | As little as $25, up to $100 off a month[3] |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 a month[5] | $50 a month[5] |
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet from Eli Lilly, with strengths from 0.8 mg to 17.2 mg.[6] Lilly announced its FDA approval on April 1, 2026, and calls it a small molecule (non-peptide) oral GLP-1.[9] Lilly also says adults on the highest dose lost an average of 27 pounds in the ATTAIN-1 trial.[9] Lilly calls it its second FDA-approved obesity medicine.[9]
Wegovy pill vs Foundayo weight loss
Neither label includes a head to head trial of the two pills. Each was tested against placebo in a separate trial:
- Foundayo: in a 72-week trial of 3,127 adults with obesity, or overweight with a related condition and no diabetes, average weight loss was 7.4% on 5.5 mg, 8.3% on 9 mg and 11.1% on 17.2 mg, against 2.1% on placebo. In a second 72-week trial of adults with type 2 diabetes, it was 9.6% on 17.2 mg against 2.5%.[6]
- Wegovy pill: in a 64-week trial, adults with obesity, or overweight with a related condition, lost an average 13.6% on 25 mg against 2.4% on placebo.[7]
The trials differed in length, people and design, so the numbers are not a direct comparison. Talk with a clinician about which pill, if either, fits you.
Foundayo vs Wegovy cost
Self-pay prices for a month (30 days for Foundayo, one bottle of 30 tablets for the Wegovy pill):[1][2][3]
| Step | Foundayo | Wegovy pill |
|---|---|---|
| First month | $149 (0.8 mg) | $149 (1.5 mg) |
| Second month | $149 (2.5 mg; $199 after December 31, 2026) | $199 (4 mg) |
| Third month | $199 (5.5 mg; $299 after December 31, 2026) | $299 (9 mg) |
| Higher doses | $299 (9 mg); $299 for 14.5 mg or 17.2 mg with a refill within 45 days, otherwise $349 | $299 (25 mg maintenance) |
Lilly lists the 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices as temporarily reduced through December 31, 2026, with regular prices of $199 and $299.[2] With commercial insurance that covers the drug, both makers’ offers let you pay as little as $25 a month; government plan members are excluded.[1][2][3] See the Wegovy pill cost guide for the pen prices too.
Zepbound vs Foundayo
Both are Eli Lilly weight management medicines, but they are different drugs:[4][6][8]
- Ingredient and form: Zepbound is tirzepatide, a weekly injection that acts on GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Foundayo is orforglipron, a daily pill that acts on GLP-1 receptors.
- Approved uses: both are approved for weight management; Zepbound is also approved for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.
- Label trial results: Zepbound 15 mg averaged 20.9% weight loss at 72 weeks against 3.1% on placebo; Foundayo 17.2 mg averaged 11.1% at 72 weeks against 2.1%. These were separate trials.
- Self-pay price: the Zepbound KwikPen is $299 to $449 a month with on-time refills; Foundayo is $149 to $299, or $349 for the top doses without an on-time refill.
- Medicare: the GLP-1 Bridge covers both at $50 a month, Zepbound in the KwikPen only.[5]
See Wegovy vs Zepbound and the Zepbound self pay cost guide for more.
Foundayo and Wegovy with Medicare
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers Foundayo tablets and Wegovy injection or tablets for $50 a month. You need Part D, must be 18 or older and must meet BMI rules, and you are not eligible if you have type 2 diabetes, moderate to severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease; people with those conditions should ask their drug plan, which may already cover a GLP-1.[5] The $50 does not count toward your drug plan deductible or yearly out-of-pocket limit.[5]
Foundayo vs Wegovy side effects
Reported in at least 5% of people in the label trials:
- Foundayo: nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal pain, headache, bloating, fatigue, burping, acid reflux, gas and hair loss.[6]
- Wegovy: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, abnormal skin sensations, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating, burping, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, gastroenteritis, acid reflux and hair loss.[7]
Both labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents, and neither drug is for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.[6][7] Both labels say not to use them with another GLP-1 receptor agonist.[6][7]
Talk with a clinician
How you want to take it, your other conditions and your coverage all matter. Care Anytime members can reach state-licensed doctors by phone or video for non-emergency care through virtual physician access; we do not sell these drugs.
Frequently asked questions
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist pill from Eli Lilly. Lilly announced its FDA approval on April 1, 2026, for adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, alongside diet and physical activity. Lilly describes it as a small molecule, non-peptide pill.
Is Foundayo or the Wegovy pill better for weight loss?
Their labels report separate trials, not a head to head comparison. Adults without diabetes lost an average 11.1% at 72 weeks on Foundayo 17.2 mg against 2.1% on placebo, and 13.6% at 64 weeks on the 25 mg Wegovy pill against 2.4%. The trials differed in length and design, so talk with a clinician about which fits you.
Do you have to take Foundayo on an empty stomach?
No. The Foundayo label says to take it once daily with or without food. The Wegovy pill label says to take it on an empty stomach in the morning with up to 4 ounces of plain water, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.
Is Foundayo cheaper than the Wegovy pill?
Starting prices match at $149 a month. Through December 31, 2026, Foundayo 5.5 mg is $199, the same as the 4 mg Wegovy pill. At the top doses, Foundayo 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg are $299 with a refill within 45 days, or $349 regular price, and the 25 mg Wegovy pill is $299.
Zepbound vs Foundayo: what is the difference?
Both are from Eli Lilly and approved for weight management. Zepbound is tirzepatide, a weekly injection also approved for obstructive sleep apnea with obesity; Foundayo is orforglipron, a daily pill. In label trials, Zepbound 15 mg averaged 20.9% weight loss at 72 weeks and Foundayo 17.2 mg 11.1%, in separate studies. Self-pay, Zepbound costs $299 to $449 a month and Foundayo $149 to $349.
Does Medicare cover Foundayo?
Yes, for eligible people through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which charges $50 a month for Foundayo, Wegovy (injection or tablet) and the Zepbound KwikPen. You need Part D, must be 18 or older, must meet BMI rules and must not have type 2 diabetes, moderate to severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease.
Related
Sources
- 1 Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect). Foundayo self-pay pricing. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 2 Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect). Foundayo full terms and conditions. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 3 Novo Nordisk NovoCare. Price your Wegovy: self-pay and savings offers for the pill and pen. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 4 Eli Lilly and Company. Zepbound coverage and savings. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 5 Medicare.gov. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month (fact sheet, June 2026). Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 6 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Foundayo (orforglipron) tablets: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 7 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 8 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 9 Eli Lilly and Company (via PR Newswire). FDA approves Lilly's Foundayo (orforglipron), the only GLP-1 pill for weight loss that can be taken any time of day without food or water restrictions (April 1, 2026). Accessed Oct 30, 2026.