Food of the United States And the FDA on Wednesday approved a new obesity pill called Foundive. Taken once a day, the pill is made by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which also produces the popular weight loss injection Zepbound.
Foundayo is a type of drug known as GLP-1, a category that includes competitors Ozympic and Vigovi. This drug refers to a naturally occurring hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar, slows digestion, and gives the brain a sense of fullness.
It is now the second GLP-1 weight loss pill on the market. In December, Novo Nordisk received FDA approval for a pill form of Vigo. The original version of the Vigoway company is a weekly injectable. While Vigovi pills should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, Lilly says Fondue can be taken at any time of the day without food or water restrictions.
With injectable GLP-1 drugs in high demand, pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop weight-loss pills, which may be better for some patients and potentially expand the market for GLP-1s. Pills are also easier to develop than injectable drugs, which can help maintain consistent access for patients. GLP-1 drugs are facing a steep decline from late 2022 to 2025 as demand outpaces production capacity.
“Beyond supply and affordability, a major barrier to uptake is that some patients simply don’t want to take an injection,” says Ken Caster, CEO of Eli Lilly. “It may be because it’s a needle, but it may just be that for them, an injection indicates that their condition is more severe than they realize. For patients who want to start their weight management journey, the pill may be an easy place for them to start.”
Like the injectable GLP-1s, Foundayo starts at a low dose and is gradually increased to reduce the nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that comes with this medication.
In a clinical trial, those taking the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of 27 pounds, or 12.4 percent of their body weight, over 18 months. Those taking the placebo lost only 2 pounds, or less than 1 percent of their body weight, during the same period. Lilly’s tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its injectable Monjaro and Zipbound, showed a weight loss of more than 20 percent.
For the new Nordic Vigovi pill, study participants lost an average of 13.6 percent weight over 16 months. There are no head-to-head trials comparing the effectiveness of the Foundio and Vigovi pills.
Eli Lilly did a study to find out what happens when people switch from an injectable GLP-1 drug to a foundo and found that it helped people maintain their weight gain. Those who switched from injectable Vigovi to the pill gained an average of 2 pounds, while those who switched from ZipBound to Foundave gained an average of 11 pounds. The active ingredient in Foundayo, orforglipron, is also being studied as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes, insomnia, osteoarthritis knee pain, and other conditions.
Foundayo is available now through direct-to-consumer platform LillyDirect, with shipping beginning April 6. Eli Lilly says Foundio will soon be widely available in U.S. retail pharmacies and telehealth providers. The pill was included in the November 2025 deal offered through the Trump Rx platform.
In its announcement on Wednesday, the FDA said it reviewed Foundave in just 50 days as part of a new pilot program aimed at speeding approval for drugs that align with national health priorities. Approval of new drugs usually takes six to 10 months.
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