Foundayo vs Wegovy pill: GLP-1 pills compared

The difference in one paragraph

The Wegovy pill is semaglutide, the same molecule as Wegovy and Ozempic shots, in a daily tablet ^[6]. Foundayo is orforglipron, a different molecule; it is not semaglutide and not tirzepatide ^[5]. The Wegovy pill has stricter morning rules. Foundayo has more dose steps. Both carry a thyroid C-cell tumor boxed warning ^{[6] [5]}.

Side-by-side

Foundayo vs Wegovy pill, as of Oct 17, 2026

	Wegovy pill	Foundayo
Drug	Semaglutide tablets (Novo Nordisk) [6]	Orforglipron tablets (Eli Lilly) [5]
Approved	Dec 22, 2025 [1]	April 1, 2026 [2]
Approved for	Weight reduction in adults; heart-risk reduction in adults with heart disease and excess weight [6]	Weight reduction and maintenance in adults with obesity, or overweight with a related condition [5]
Dose steps	1.5 mg days 1 to 30, 4 mg days 31 to 60, 9 mg days 61 to 90, then 25 mg [6]	0.8, 2.5, 5.5 mg at 30-day steps, then 9, 14.5 or 17.2 mg [5]
How to take	Morning, empty stomach, up to 4 oz plain water, wait 30 minutes before food, drinks or other pills [6]	Once daily with or without food; swallow whole [5]
Weight trial	OASIS 4: 16.6% vs 2.7% at 64 weeks on treatment; 13.6% vs about 2% regardless of adherence [1]	Trial 1: 7.4%, 8.3%, 11.1% at 5.5, 9, 17.2 mg vs 2.1% at 72 weeks [5]
Stopped for side effects	6.9% vs 5.9% placebo [6]	8% overall vs 3% placebo (10% at 17.2 mg) [5]
Nausea	Similar to Wegovy 2.4 mg injection [6]	26% to 35% vs 10% placebo [5]
Breastfeeding	Not recommended [6]	Not recommended [5]
Storage	Room temperature, original bottle [8]	Room temperature [9]
Self-pay price	$149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg), $299 (9 and 25 mg) [3]	$149 (0.8 and 2.5 mg), $199 (5.5 mg), $299 (9 to 17.2 mg) [4]
TrumpRx	From $149 [10]	Not listed on the home page on Oct 17, 2026 [10]

Which pill works better?

No trial has compared them directly, so there is no clean answer. The Wegovy pill's 13.6% figure counts everyone randomized, whether or not they kept taking it ^[1]; Foundayo's label reports 11.1% at its top dose over 72 weeks ^[5]. Those numbers come from different trials and are not directly comparable. Foundayo's label also reports 9.6% at 17.2 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes ^[5].

If you are comparing pills to shots: in the SURMOUNT-5 trial of the injections, tirzepatide averaged 20.2% and semaglutide 13.7% at 72 weeks ^[11]. See Wegovy pill vs injection and Wegovy vs Zepbound.

Side effects

Both cause mostly stomach side effects. On Foundayo, nausea ran 26% to 35%, constipation 20% to 27%, diarrhea 21% to 25% and vomiting 13% to 24% across doses, versus 10%, 9%, 11% and 4% on placebo ^[5]. The Wegovy label says the 25 mg tablet's side effects were similar in type and frequency to the 2.4 mg injection, plus dysesthesia (an altered skin sensation) in 5% versus 0% ^[6]. FDA required Lilly to run 5 years of enhanced liver-injury monitoring for Foundayo after approval ^[9]. More on GLP-1 side effects.

Interactions worth knowing

• Birth control pills: Foundayo's label advises a non-oral or backup method for 30 days after starting and after each dose increase ^[5].
• Thyroid medicine: with the Wegovy tablet, levothyroxine exposure rose 33%, so drugs with a narrow dose range may need monitoring ^[6].
• Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors: cap Foundayo at 9 mg a day ^[5].

Foundayo vs Zepbound

Foundayo is not Zepbound. Both are made by Lilly, but Zepbound is tirzepatide, a weekly injection, while Foundayo is orforglipron, a daily pill ^{[12] [5]}. Zepbound's SURMOUNT-1 trial averaged 20.9% weight loss at 15 mg ^[13] versus 11.1% for Foundayo's top dose ^[5], again from separate trials. Do not take them together: both labels say not to combine with another GLP-1 receptor agonist ^{[12] [5]}.

Switching from Wegovy to Foundayo

Neither label gives a conversion between the two drugs. Foundayo's label starts everyone at 0.8 mg ^[5]. The Wegovy label does give a switch between its own forms: start the 25 mg tablet one week after the last 2.4 mg injection ^[6]. Any switch across brands is set by your prescriber. See switching GLP-1s.

Cost and coverage

Foundayo's 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices are temporary through Dec 31, 2026, and its 14.5 and 17.2 mg prices need a refill within 45 days ^[4]. Commercially insured patients may pay as little as $25 for either ^{[14] [3]}. Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge covers Foundayo and Wegovy tablets for a $50 copay from July 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2027 for eligible Part D members ^{[7] [15]}. Prices by dose: Wegovy pill cost and Foundayo.

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Programs that prescribe both pills (clean, provisional)

1. RRo (Ro Body Program)

   Clean

   Price

   Zepbound KwikPen $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5 to 15 mg) a month; Wegovy pill $149 to $299; Wegovy pen $199 for the first 2 months at 0.25 to 0.5 mg, then $349, or $399 for 7.2 mg. Membership $39 the first month, then $74 to $149 a month. Checked Oct 17, 2026 ^[16].

   What you get

   FDA-approved brand drugs only (Zepbound, Wegovy pen and pill, Foundayo, Ozempic). Helps with insurance prior authorizations.

   FDA record

   No FDA warning letter found as of Oct 17, 2026.

   BBB

   BBB profile not checked as of Oct 17, 2026.

   Note

   Membership is billed on top of the drug. The $74 rate needs a 12-month prepay. Verdict: clean (provisional). Ro review

   Visit Ro (Ro Body Program)

2. LLifeMD

   Clean

   Price

   Wegovy pill from $149, Wegovy pen from $199, Zepbound vial from $299 a month, plus a program fee of $39 the first month and $149 a month after. Checked Oct 17, 2026 ^[17].

   What you get

   Brand GLP-1s with insurance help. Says compounded drugs "may" be prescribed through a compounding partner, with no products or prices shown.

   FDA record

   No FDA warning letter found as of Oct 17, 2026.

   BBB

   BBB profile not checked as of Oct 17, 2026.

   Note

   Its own pages list two different program fees ($149 and $75). Medicare patients are not eligible for the program. Verdict: clean (provisional). LifeMD review

   Visit LifeMD

See Ro prices