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Foundayo (orforglipron): price, doses and how to get it

Foundayo costs $149 to $299 a month self-pay through LillyDirect, and the 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices are temporarily reduced through Dec 31, 2026, per Lilly's prices checked Oct 17, 2026 [1]. In the label's main trial, adults without diabetes on the 17.2 mg dose lost an average of 11.1% of body weight at 72 weeks, against 2.1% on placebo [2].

Updated Oct 17, 2026By the Wellchosen Health editorial team

Medical review: pending. A licensed clinician has not yet reviewed this page.

Foundayo is Eli Lilly's brand of orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 pill the FDA approved on April 1, 2026 for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition [3].

LillyDirect price
$149 (0.8 mg), $149 (2.5 mg), $199 (5.5 mg), $299 (9, 14.5, 17.2 mg) a month [1]
Temporary cut ends
Dec 31, 2026, for the 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices [1]
Refill rule
14.5 mg and 17.2 mg stay at $299 only if refilled within 45 days [1]
With covered insurance
As little as $25 a month [4]
Medicare
$50 a month under the GLP-1 Bridge, if eligible [5] [4]
Checked
Oct 17, 2026

Foundayo price by dose

LillyDirect counts a Foundayo month as 30 days [1]. The low prices on the second and third doses are a promotion with an end date, and the two highest doses carry a refill-timing condition like Zepbound's. For all GLP-1 prices in one place, see the GLP-1 Price Tracker.

Foundayo prices, checked Oct 17, 2026
Dose or channelPrice a monthTermsCheckedSource
LillyDirect, 0.8 mg (starting dose)$149Drug only. Prescription needed.Oct 17, 2026Lilly [1]
LillyDirect, 2.5 mg$149Temporary price through Dec 31, 2026. Ro lists the regular price as $199.Oct 17, 2026Lilly [1]; Ro [6]
LillyDirect, 5.5 mg$199Temporary price through Dec 31, 2026. Ro lists the regular price as $299.Oct 17, 2026Lilly [1]; Ro [6]
LillyDirect, 9 mg$299Drug onlyOct 17, 2026Lilly [1]
LillyDirect, 14.5 mg or 17.2 mg$299Only if refilled within 45 days (Self-Pay Journey Program). Drugs.com reported $349 when not refilled in time.Oct 17, 2026Lilly [1]; Drugs.com [7]
Commercial plan covers Foundayo, with savings cardAs little as $25Government plans excluded. Caps not published in the sources we read.Oct 17, 2026Lilly [4]
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge$50One-month supply, if you meet the criteriaOct 17, 2026CMS [5]
Ro (telehealth)$149 to $299 plus membershipPromo prices need sign-up by Dec 31, 2026. Membership $39 first month, then $74 to $149.Oct 17, 2026Ro [6]
TrumpRxNot listedFoundayo was not among the GLP-1s on the TrumpRx home pageOct 17, 2026TrumpRx [8]
Drugs.com (July 2026) showed higher prices for some doses, likely the regular prices before Lilly's temporary cut [7].

What it will really cost over a year

  • Step-ups. The label starts at 0.8 mg, then 2.5 mg after at least 30 days, then 5.5 mg after at least 30 more days. After that the prescriber may move to 9, 14.5 or 17.2 mg, with at least 30 days on each [2].
  • The promotion ending. Starting in 2027, the 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg months may cost $199 and $299, the regular prices Ro lists [6], unless Lilly extends the cut.
  • Late refills on the top doses. Refill 14.5 mg or 17.2 mg after 45 days and you lose the $299 price [1].
  • The prescriber. LillyDirect needs a prescription; telehealth programs add a membership, such as Ro's [6].

Does Foundayo work?

The label reports two 72-week trials. In adults without 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 adults with type 2 diabetes, it was 5.1%, 7.0% and 9.6%, against 2.5% [2]. These are averages; individual results vary.

Foundayo is not tirzepatide. Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a weekly injection; in SURMOUNT-1 its 15 mg dose produced 20.9% average weight loss at 72 weeks [9]. The trials differ, so the numbers are not a head-to-head test. For the two pills side by side, see Foundayo vs Wegovy pill; the Wegovy pill costs $149 to $299 a month [10].

How to take Foundayo

  • Once a day, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole; do not break, crush or chew it. No more than one tablet a day [2].
  • Lilly's approval release says it can be taken at any time of day [3].
  • Missed dose: take it as soon as possible and do not double the next one. If you miss 7 or more days in a row, the label says to restart at a lower dose [2].
  • Some drugs change the dose: with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, the label caps Foundayo at 9 mg a day [2]. Tell your prescriber about every medicine you take.
  • Store at room temperature, 68 to 77 F [11].

Side effects

Common side effects in the label's placebo-controlled trials
Side effectPlacebo5.5 mg9 mg17.2 mg
Nausea10%26%34%35%
Constipation9%20%27%24%
Diarrhea11%21%23%25%
Vomiting4%13%21%24%
8% of people on Foundayo stopped because of side effects, against 3% on placebo, mostly for stomach problems [2].

Safety warnings on the Foundayo label

Foundayo has a boxed warning: other GLP-1 drugs caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. Orforglipron did not, because it is not active in rodents, so the human risk is undetermined. Do not use it with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 [2]. Stomach pain that is severe and does not stop can signal pancreatitis, and swelling, rash or trouble breathing can signal an allergic reaction; both need prompt care. If you use birth control pills, the label says to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 30 days after starting and after each dose increase. It may harm a fetus, so stop when pregnancy is recognized; breastfeeding is not recommended [2]. For an emergency, call 911.

How to get Foundayo

  1. Get a prescription from your clinician or a telehealth program. Foundayo is prescription-only [1].
  2. Fill it through LillyDirect, which began shipping April 6, 2026 with free home delivery or free retail pickup, or at a retail pharmacy; retail shipping began April 9, 2026 [4].
  3. With commercial insurance, ask whether your plan covers it and use Lilly's savings card [4]. Our guide to how plans decide on Lilly's weight drugs lists the steps.
  4. On Medicare Part D, check the GLP-1 Bridge criteria on our Medicare page.

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See Ro prices

Telehealth programs that sell Foundayo (clean or caution only)

  1. Ro (Ro Body Program)

    Clean
    Price
    $149 to $299 plus membership [6]
    What you get
    Foundayo at every strength, plus the Wegovy pill and pens and Zepbound
    FDA record
    No FDA warning letter found as of Oct 17, 2026
    BBB
    Not yet checked
    Note
    Promo prices need sign-up by Dec 31, 2026

    Visit Ro (Ro Body Program)

  2. Found

    Clean
    Price
    Brand plan $99 to $149 a month, drug billed separately [12]
    What you get
    Prescribes brand GLP-1s including Foundayo
    FDA record
    No FDA warning letter found as of Oct 17, 2026
    BBB
    Not yet checked
    Note
    Labs not included

    Visit Found

Other options: Wegovy pill cost, Zepbound cost and online GLP-1 programs compared.

Questions people ask

How much does Foundayo cost without insurance?

On LillyDirect, Foundayo costs $149 a month for 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg, $199 for 5.5 mg and $299 for 9, 14.5 and 17.2 mg (checked Oct 17, 2026). The 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices are a temporary cut through Dec 31, 2026 [1].

What is Foundayo?

Foundayo is orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 pill from Eli Lilly. The FDA approved it on April 1, 2026 for adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, alongside diet and exercise [3].

Is Foundayo a GLP-1, and is it the same as tirzepatide?

Foundayo is a GLP-1 medicine taken as a daily pill [3]. It is not tirzepatide, the drug in Zepbound and Mounjaro, and the label says not to use it with another GLP-1 receptor agonist [2].

How effective is Foundayo for weight loss?

In the label's 72-week trial of adults without diabetes, people lost an average of 7.4% on 5.5 mg, 8.3% on 9 mg and 11.1% on 17.2 mg, against 2.1% on placebo [2].

How do I take Foundayo?

Once a day, with or without food, swallowed whole, never more than one tablet a day [2]. Lilly says it can be taken at any time of day [3]. Can you take it every other day? The label schedule is daily; follow your prescriber's instructions.

Does Medicare cover Foundayo?

Yes, for people who qualify for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which covers Foundayo for weight management at a $50 monthly copay from July 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2027 [5] [4]. Lilly's $25 savings card is not open to Medicare members [4].

Is Foundayo covered by insurance?

It depends on your plan. If a commercial plan covers it, Lilly's savings card can lower the cost to $25 a month [4]. If not, LillyDirect self-pay runs $149 to $299 a month [1].

Is Foundayo safe?

It is FDA-approved, with label warnings. The most common side effects were nausea, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting, and 8% stopped for side effects against 3% on placebo. It has a boxed thyroid tumor warning and should not be used with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 [2].

Sources

12 cited
  1. Foundayo on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
  2. Foundayo (orforglipron) prescribing information. Eli Lilly and Company (FDA-approved labeling), Jul 2026.
  3. FDA approves Lilly's Foundayo (orforglipron). Eli Lilly and Company, Apr 1, 2026.
  4. Foundayo now available: Lilly's oral GLP-1 pill for weight loss. Eli Lilly and Company, Apr 9, 2026.
  5. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for pharmacies. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oct 17, 2026.
  6. Ro weight loss pricing. Ro, Oct 17, 2026.
  7. How much does Foundayo cost?. Drugs.com, Jul 22, 2026.
  8. TrumpRx.gov home page. TrumpRx.gov (US government), Oct 17, 2026.
  9. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), Jun 4, 2022.
  10. Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
  11. Foundayo NDA 220934 approval package. US Food and Drug Administration, Apr 1, 2026.
  12. Found offer terms. Found, Oct 17, 2026.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.

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