GLP-1 pill: Foundayo (orforglipron)

An FDA-approved daily weight-loss pill (Foundayo), approved in 2026. It is NOT a peptide. It is a small chemical that acts like the GLP-1 peptide.

AI illustration of a pill bottle labeled Orforglipron — AI illustration

FDA statusFDA approved

The FDA approved it as a prescription medicine for certain uses.

Proof it works in people for weight lossStrong

A trial of more than 3,000 people.

Safety data in peopleWell studied

Thousands of people. New to the market in 2026.

These are 3 different questions. FDA status is about the law. Proof is about whether it works. Safety data is about how much we know about its risks. A lack of safety data does not mean it does not work, and "not approved" does not mean "illegal."

By the Peptide Science Desk Editorial TeamFact-checked against FDA and official sources · Oct 18, 2026Not yet reviewed by a licensed clinician. How we check facts

What is it?

Orforglipron is a small lab-made chemical, not a peptide. It works on the same body switch (GLP-1) as Wegovy and Zepbound. It is a pill you swallow once a day, sold as Foundayo. You need a prescription.

Why do people use it?

Doctors use Foundayo, with a lower-calorie diet and more exercise, to help adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related health problem, lose weight and keep it off.

Does it really work?

This one is proven. The FDA approved Foundayo on April 1, 2026. In a big 72-week study of 3,127 adults with obesity, people on the highest dose lost about 11% of their body weight on average. People on a fake pill (placebo) lost about 2%.

Studies in people

Study	People	What they found	Limits
Randomized trial (ATTAIN-1)	3,127	Lost 11.2% (highest dose) vs 2.1% on placebo in 72 weeks.	Paid for by the maker. Stomach side effects.

We only list studies we read on PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov. Checked October 18, 2026.

The numbers in a chart

Weight loss: GLP-1 pills vs the shot

% of starting body weight lost, drug vs placebo (fake medicine)

Semaglutide shot 2.4 mg (Wegovy)STEP 1 · 1,961 adults · 68 weeks

−14.9%

−2.4%

Semaglutide pill 25 mg (Wegovy tablets)OASIS 4 · 307 adults · 64 weeks

−13.6%

−2.2%

Semaglutide pill 50 mgOASIS 1 · 667 adults · 68 weeks · this dose is not sold

−15.1%

−2.4%

Orforglipron pill 36 mg (Foundayo)Not a peptideATTAIN-1 · 3,127 adults · 72 weeks

−11.2%

−2.1%

Different trials, different people: not a head-to-head comparison.

Show the numbers as a table

Weight loss: GLP-1 pills vs the shot: % of starting body weight lost, drug vs placebo (fake medicine)
Trial	Drug	Placebo
Semaglutide shot 2.4 mg (Wegovy) STEP 1 · 1,961 adults · 68 weeks	−14.9%	−2.4%
Semaglutide pill 25 mg (Wegovy tablets) OASIS 4 · 307 adults · 64 weeks	−13.6%	−2.2%
Semaglutide pill 50 mg OASIS 1 · 667 adults · 68 weeks · this dose is not sold	−15.1%	−2.4%
Orforglipron pill 36 mg (Foundayo) (Not a peptide) ATTAIN-1 · 3,127 adults · 72 weeks	−11.2%	−2.1%

Orforglipron is a small-molecule pill, not a peptide. It is shown because people compare it with peptide GLP-1 drugs. The OASIS and ATTAIN trials were paid for by the drug makers (Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly). Sources: Wilding et al., NEJM 2021 (STEP 1) (PMID 33567185); Knop et al., Lancet 2023 (OASIS 1) (PMID 37385278); Wharton et al., NEJM 2025 (OASIS 4) (PMID 40934115); Wharton et al., NEJM 2025 (ATTAIN-1) (PMID 40960239).

More charts: Peptides by the numbers

Is it safe? Side effects

Common side effects on the label include feeling sick, constipation, diarrhea, throwing up, upset stomach, belly pain, headache, bloating, feeling tired, burping, heartburn, gas, and hair loss.
The label has a boxed warning about thyroid tumors. People with a personal or family history of a rare thyroid cancer (MTC) or MEN 2 should not use it.
The label also warns about pancreas swelling, gallbladder problems, and kidney problems from losing too much fluid.

Is it legal in the US?

Yes. Foundayo is FDA-approved. (The FDA is the US agency that checks if medicines are safe and work.) Products sold online as "orforglipron for research" are not the approved medicine.

What "not approved" does and does not mean

With a prescription, it is legal to use for the uses on its FDA label.
Doctors may also prescribe an approved drug for other uses ("off-label") when they think it is right for you. (FDA)
Copies made by a pharmacy (compounded) are not FDA approved. The FDA does not check them before they are sold. State boards of pharmacy oversee most pharmacies. (FDA)
Products sold online "for research" or "not for human use" are not the approved medicine. The FDA has warned companies that sold them to people. (FDA)

Banned in sports? Drug tests

Not banned in sports.

No. USADA lists orforglipron (Foundayo) with the GLP-1 drugs and says GLP-1 drugs are not banned in sport.

Check work, NCAA, and military rules for Foundayo

Talk to your doctor

Do not start any peptide on your own. Ask a doctor first. We never share doses or tell you where to buy. Print our doctor questions sheet.

Check any peptide in 1 secondFree FDA Status Checker: approved, being tested, or not proven.

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Not medical advice. Medical disclaimer.