Current UK status of Orforglipron (Foundayo) at a glance
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Question
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Position at 14 August 2026
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Is orforglipron authorised by the MHRA?
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Yes. It was authorised on 10 August 2026. [1]
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Is Foundayo prescription-only?
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Yes. It can only be supplied on prescription through a registered pharmacy. [1][2]
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Is UK product information available?
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Yes. The Patient Information Leaflet is available on eMC and was last updated there on 12 August 2026; the UK Summary of Product Characteristics was last updated on eMC on 14 August 2026. [2][3]
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Is Foundayo generally stocked by UK pharmacies?
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The official UK sources used for this update confirm authorisation and product information, but do not establish general nationwide private pharmacy stock. Supply should be checked separately rather than inferred from approval. [1][2]
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Is Foundayo available on the NHS?
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No, not currently. [1]
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Has NICE recommended orforglipron for weight management?
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Not yet. NICE's appraisal is in development, with publication currently expected on 18 November 2026. [4]
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Important: MHRA authorisation, private pharmacy supply, NICE recommendation and NHS access are separate questions. A medicine can be licensed before it is routinely stocked or funded by the NHS.
What is Orforglipron (Foundayo)?
Orforglipron is a non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist. Foundayo is its UK brand name. It acts on GLP-1 receptors, including appetite-regulating areas of the brain, helping people feel fuller, reducing hunger and reducing food cravings. In type 2 diabetes, it also helps lower blood glucose when glucose levels are high. [1][2]
It is a different active substance from semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, and tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro. [8][9] These medicines have different formulations, dosing schedules, evidence bases and product information, so they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Who is Orforglipron authorised for in the UK?
For weight management, Foundayo is authorised alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with an initial BMI of:
- 30 kg/m² or above; or
- 27 kg/m² to below 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related health condition, such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood-fat levels, obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease. [1][2]
It is also authorised for adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, either on its own or with other diabetes medicines, alongside diet and exercise. [2]
The licence criteria define who the medicine can be prescribed for. They do not establish that it is suitable for a particular person. That depends on medical history, other medicines, potential risks and the likely benefit of treatment.
Foundayo is not currently authorised for children or young people under 18 because safety and efficacy have not yet been established in this age group. [2]
Is Foundayo available in the UK now?
Foundayo is authorised for use in the UK. That does not necessarily mean it can be obtained immediately from every private pharmacy.
As of 14 August 2026, the MHRA and eMC sources used for this guide confirm the UK licence and published product information, but they do not provide a reliable statement that general nationwide private stock is already available. For that reason, pharmacy supply should be checked separately rather than inferred from the approval date. [1][2][3]
Is orforglipron available on the NHS?
No. The MHRA stated on 10 August 2026 that orforglipron was not currently available through the NHS. NICE is separately appraising it for managing overweight and obesity, with guidance currently expected on 18 November 2026. [1][4]
NICE guidance, NHS commissioning and actual local access are separate stages. MHRA authorisation should not be described as NHS approval.
Can Foundayo be bought without a prescription?
No. Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine. The MHRA states that GLP-1 medicines should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy with a valid prescription and warns that medicines from unregulated sellers can carry serious health risks. [1]
How is Foundayo taken?
Foundayo is a once-daily tablet. UK product information sets out a gradual dose-escalation pathway intended to improve tolerability while allowing the prescriber to assess response. [2]
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Dose
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Earliest progression
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What the UK product information says
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0.8mg once daily
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Starting dose
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Starting dose. Remain on it for at least 30 days. [2]
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2.5mg once daily
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After at least 30 days
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The dose should then be increased to 2.5mg once daily. [2]
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5.5mg once daily
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After at least 30 more days
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The dose can be increased if appropriate. [2]
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9mg once daily
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After at least 30 days on the current dose
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A further increase may be made according to treatment response and tolerability. [2]
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14.5mg once daily
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After at least 30 days on the current dose
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A further increase may be made according to treatment response and tolerability. [2]
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17.2mg once daily
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After at least 30 days on the current dose
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Maximum authorised daily dose. [2]
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This is the authorised dose sequence, not a timetable for self-titration. The higher increases are based on response and tolerability, and some medicines can change the dose that is safe to use. Do not change your dose or take more than one Foundayo tablet in a day unless your prescriber has instructed you to do so.
What is the Foundayo maintenance dose?
The UK Summary of Product Characteristics does not name one universal maintenance dose for everyone. It specifies the starting dose, the step to 2.5mg and the later dose levels that may be used according to treatment response and tolerability, up to a maximum of 17.2mg once daily. [2]
That distinction matters. The maximum dose is a ceiling, not a target that every patient should automatically reach.
Should Foundayo be taken in the morning or at night?
It can be taken at any time of day. UK product information does not say it works better in the morning or at night. [1][2]
Does Foundayo need to be taken with food or water?
No specific food or water restriction is required. It can be taken with or without food. The tablet should be swallowed whole and must not be broken, crushed or chewed. [1][2]
“No water restriction” does not mean that water should be avoided. It means there is no fixed water-volume or fasting rule attached to the dose.
What should you do if you miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, the UK SmPC says dosing should be resumed as soon as possible, but more than one tablet must not be taken in a day. It does not provide a general multi-day restart schedule. If you have missed several doses or are unsure how to restart, contact your prescriber or pharmacist rather than applying instructions from another country's product information.
Can other medicines affect the Foundayo dose?
Some medicines can materially change orforglipron exposure or alter the maximum safe dose. Give your prescriber and pharmacist a complete list of prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments and herbal products before starting or changing Foundayo.
Yes. Orforglipron is affected by several drug-metabolism and transport pathways, so some medicines can substantially increase or reduce exposure. The UK SmPC gives specific restrictions for strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, strong CYP3A4 inducers and OATP1B inhibitors. For example, the maximum Foundayo dose is 9mg once daily with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor or a clinical OATP1B inhibitor, while strong CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided. [2]
Examples listed in the UK product information include clarithromycin, ketoconazole and itraconazole as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, and rifampicin, phenytoin and St John's wort as strong CYP3A4 inducers. Some combinations that inhibit both CYP3A4 and OATP1B, including ritonavir and telaprevir, should be avoided. [2]
Orforglipron can also affect other medicines. The SmPC says the dose of simvastatin should be halved when it is used with orforglipron, and advises caution with higher doses of rosuvastatin. Because orforglipron delays gastric emptying, it can also alter the rate at which some oral medicines are absorbed. [2]
What if you use insulin or a sulfonylurea?
Using orforglipron with insulin or a sulfonylurea can increase the risk of low blood sugar. The UK SmPC says the insulin or sulfonylurea dose may need to be reduced and blood glucose monitoring is needed when doses are adjusted. [2]
Symptoms of a hypo can include sweating, shaking, dizziness, hunger, palpitations, weakness, blurred vision or confusion. Severe hypoglycaemia can cause a seizure or unconsciousness. [5]
If you use insulin or a sulfonylurea, follow the hypo plan agreed with your diabetes team and do not change those medicines on your own.
How effective is orforglipron for weight loss?
The main phase 3 weight-management study, ATTAIN-1, included 3,127 adults with obesity, or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition, who did not have type 2 diabetes. Participants received orforglipron or placebo for 72 weeks alongside advice on diet and physical activity. [2]
In the intention-to-treat analysis, average body-weight change at 72 weeks was:
- 8% reduction with the 6mg investigational hard-capsule dose;
- 3% reduction with the 12mg hard-capsule dose;
- 4% reduction with the 36mg hard-capsule dose; and
- 9% reduction with placebo. [2]
The 36mg hard-capsule formulation used in the trial is listed in the UK SmPC as having equal effect to the marketed 17.2mg film-coated tablet. The other investigational hard-capsule strengths should not be read as current UK tablet strengths. [2]
These figures are trial averages, not a prediction of how much weight an individual person will lose. Response varies, and the licensed dose is adjusted according to response and tolerability rather than by trying to reproduce a trial number.
What are the most common side effects of Foundayo?
The most frequently reported adverse effects in phase 3 studies were gastrointestinal. Nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain are listed as very common. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea occurred more often during dose escalation and generally became less frequent over time. [2]
Other effects listed as common include dizziness, headache, fast heart rate, low blood pressure, bloating, burping, reflux, flatulence, gallstones, hair loss, fatigue and increased amylase or lipase levels. [2]
Most gastrointestinal side effects in the trials were mild or moderate, but the SmPC also warns that severe gastrointestinal reactions can occur. [2]
Foundayo safety warnings and when to get help
Seek immediate medical help for persistent severe abdominal pain that could indicate pancreatitis, or for signs of a severe allergic reaction such as sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue or difficulty breathing.
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What you notice
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Why it matters
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What to do
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Mild nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion or abdominal discomfort, especially after starting or increasing the dose
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These are common gastrointestinal effects and are more frequent during dose escalation. [2]
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Monitor symptoms and try to avoid becoming dehydrated. Contact your prescriber or pharmacist if symptoms are persistent, worsening or making it difficult to eat or drink normally.
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Persistent, severe abdominal pain, with or without pain going through to the back
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Acute pancreatitis has been reported with orforglipron. [2]
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Seek immediate medical assessment. If pancreatitis is suspected, the SmPC says orforglipron should be discontinued; if confirmed, it should not be restarted. [2]
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Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, difficulty keeping fluids down, marked dizziness or signs of dehydration
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Fluid loss can worsen kidney function and can cause acute kidney injury. [2]
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Contact a clinician promptly. Seek urgent help if you are rapidly deteriorating, fainting or unable to keep fluids down.
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Severe or persistent upper abdominal pain, especially with fever, vomiting or yellowing of the skin or eyes
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Gallbladder disease has been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists including orforglipron. [2] NHS guidance treats severe abdominal pain, fever or jaundice as symptoms needing urgent assessment. [7]
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Use NHS 111 for urgent advice; call 999 or go to A&E for sudden severe pain or severe symptoms as described by NHS guidance. [7]
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Sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, difficulty breathing, wheezing, severe dizziness or collapse
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Anaphylaxis and angioedema are listed in the UK product information. [2]
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Call 999. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. [6]
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New or unusual vision changes, particularly if you have diabetes or diabetic retinopathy
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Rapid improvement in glucose control can temporarily worsen diabetic retinopathy, and rare serious eye events have been reported with medicines acting on GLP-1 receptors. [2]
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Contact your doctor or eye-care team promptly rather than waiting for a routine review.
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Sweating, shaking, dizziness, hunger, palpitations, weakness, blurred vision or confusion when also using insulin or a sulfonylurea
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These can be symptoms of low blood sugar. The risk is higher when orforglipron is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea. [2][5]
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Check your glucose if you can and follow your agreed hypo treatment plan. Call 999 if someone with very low blood sugar is unconscious or not responding normally and emergency treatment is not working or available. [5]
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Taking Orforglipron (Foundayo) with kidney and liver problems
The current UK SmPC does not require a routine dose adjustment based on renal function, including end-stage renal disease. However, vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration and volume depletion, which may worsen kidney function and lead to acute kidney injury. [2]
For liver function, no dose adjustment is required for mild or moderate hepatic impairment. Orforglipron is not recommended in severe hepatic impairment because clinical experience is limited and exposure is substantially increased. [2]
This is more precise than treating searches for “kidney damage” or “liver failure” as proof of a direct effect. The useful question is what the UK product information actually says about the risk and what action is needed.
Pregnancy, contraception and breastfeeding while taking Foundayo
Orforglipron should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are planning a pregnancy, speak to your prescriber about changing treatment; the UK SmPC says orforglipron should be discontinued for at least three weeks before a planned pregnancy.
Orforglipron may reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives. People using an oral hormonal contraceptive are advised to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 30 days after starting orforglipron and for 30 days after every dose increase. [2]
If pregnancy occurs while taking orforglipron, contact your prescriber promptly rather than making other medicine changes without advice.
Surgery, dental procedures and deep sedation
Orforglipron delays gastric emptying. Pulmonary aspiration has been reported in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists during procedures involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation. [2]
Tell the anaesthetist, surgeon, dentist or other procedural team that you take orforglipron before an operation or procedure. They can decide what precautions are appropriate for the specific procedure and your treatment.
Why is Foundayo under additional monitoring?
Foundayo carries the additional-monitoring symbol in UK product information. This is used so new safety information can be identified quickly after authorisation; it does not mean the medicine has been judged unsafe. [2][3]
If you think you have experienced a side effect, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Suspected side effects can also be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. [1][2]
When you can buy Foundayo online
Orforglipron is now authorised in the UK, but approval, private pharmacy supply and NHS access remain separate issues. As of 14 August 2026, Foundayo has an MHRA licence, a UK Patient Information Leaflet and a UK Summary of Product Characteristics. It is not currently available through the NHS, while NICE's appraisal for overweight and obesity remains in development. [1][2][3][4]
The current UK product information confirms once-daily dosing, six film-coated tablet strengths, flexible administration without a food or water restriction, and a more detailed set of safety and medicine-use requirements than was available immediately after authorisation. Because this is a newly authorised medicine, the UK availability, NICE/NHS position and product information can change and should be checked against current official sources. [1][2][4]
