Foundayo has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare productors Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for treating type 2 diabetes and for weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
It is not currently available on the NHS, but it is being reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which provides guidance for the NHS.
On this page:
- What is Foundayo?
- How does Foundayo work?
- Is Foundayo available on the NHS?
- Who can take Foundayo?
- Who can't take Foundayo?
- How to take Foundayo
- Side effects of Foundayo
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo, the brand name for orforglipron, belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs or GLP-1s). They can also be known as GLP-1 analogues, GLP-1 agonists, or incretin mimetics.
There are several different GLP-1 agonists available in the UK.
Foundayo can be taken on its own or with other diabetes medications such as metformin.
How does Foundayo work?
Glucagon-like peptide GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone in the gut and is released after eating. Foundayo is a tablet that mimics the natural action of GLP-1.
It works by helping your body to produce more insulin when needed. It also reduces the amount of glucose, or sugar, produced by the liver, and slows down how quickly food is digested. This all helps to lower blood sugar levels and HbA1c.
Is Foundayo available on the NHS?
Foundayo is not yet available on the NHS.
In August 2026 Foundayo was approved for use in the UK by the MHRA for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.
NICE will need to evaluate and approve Foundayo for type 2 diabetes and for weight management before it can become available on the NHS.
Who can take Foundayo?
Foundayo has been approved by the MHRA to treat type 2 diabetes and as a weight loss medication alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Should NICE approve Foundayo for use on the NHS, we will then learn the eligibility criteria for who will be recommended to take Foundayo.
Alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, Foundayo is authorised for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults in the UK with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of between 27 and 30, and at least one weight-related condition. It is also authorised to improve blood sugar control for people who struggle to manage their type 2 diabetes.
Who can't take Foundayo?
Some medications might not be suitable for some people, which might be because of medical conditions or other reasons. The list below shows some of the reasons why Foundayo might not be a suitable treatment for you:
- If you have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), you should not take Foundayo.
- If you notice a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath, you should seek medical advice if you are taking Foundayo.
- If you have severe liver impairment or a known serious allergy to orforglipron, you should not take it.
- If you have a history of pancreatitis, kidney problems, delayed stomach emptying, diabetes-related eye disease, or scheduled surgery, you should not take Foundayo.
- You should not take Foundayo if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re planning a pregnancy, speak with a healthcare professional if you are using this medication.
The patient information leaflet that comes with the medication will have an up to date list of warnings and precautions. When you start a new medication, always check with your healthcare team that it’s suitable for you to take. You can discuss any other medical conditions you have and any other medications you are taking.
How to take Foundayo
Foundayo is a tablet that you take once a day, which can be taken with or without food. It should be swallowed whole, and not broken, crushed or chewed.
Your healthcare team will give you more information about how to take Foundayo. Always take this medication exactly as your healthcare team has told you. The patient information leaflet inside the box will tell you how to take it, but always check with a doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Foundayo side effects
Common side effects of Foundayo can include:
- stomach pain
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- bloating (gas)
- vomiting
- headache
- Tiredness
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Burping
- hair loss.
The information about side effects is based on the likelihood of people having them. For example, if a side effect is very common, then it can affect more than one in 10 people, and if a side effect is very rare, then it affects fewer than one in 10,000 people.
Because medicines can affect people differently, your healthcare team will speak to you about what’s best for you and discuss any side effects.
It’s also important that you take individual advice from your healthcare team before starting Foundayo treatment and report any side effects to your healthcare professionals if you experience any.
Risk of low blood sugar
When taken on its own, Foundayo does not usually cause blood sugar levels to become too low, also called hypoglycaemia or hypos. However, hypos are more likely to happen when you take this medication with other diabetes medications such as insulin or a sulphonylurea.
Your healthcare team may advise reducing the dose of your sulphonylurea or insulin medicine when you start taking Foundayo to reduce the risk of hypos.
These are not all the side effects. The full list of known side effects will be on the Patient Information Leaflet, which comes in the medication box.
The information about side effects is based on the likelihood of people having them. For example, if it is very common it can affect more than one in ten people and if very rare it affects fewer than one in 10,000 people.
Because medicines can affect people differently, your healthcare team will speak to you about what’s best for you and discuss any side effects.
It’s also important that you take individual advice from your healthcare team before you start taking Foundayo and report any side effects to your healthcare professionals if you experience any.
You can also report these side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme, which is the government system used for recording side effects with medicines in the UK.
