FDA Approves Eli Lilly's New Weight Loss Pill

Foundayo, a GLP-1 drug, is the second daily oral medication for obesity treatment in the U.S.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:20pm

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted expedited approval to Eli Lilly's new weight loss pill, Foundayo, a GLP-1 drug that works similarly to injectable medications to control appetite and feelings of fullness. The pill is expected to begin shipping on Monday, with insurance coverage potentially starting at $25 per month. Foundayo joins Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as the second daily oral medication for obesity treatment approved in the U.S.

Why it matters

The approval of Foundayo provides patients with a new convenient oral option for treating obesity and weight-related conditions, in addition to the injectable GLP-1 drugs that have already seen significant uptake. This could help expand access to obesity treatments, as many have struggled to afford the costly injectable medications.

The details

In clinical trials, participants taking the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of 11.2% of their body weight, or about 25 pounds, over 16 months. This compared to a 2.1% weight loss, or less than 5 pounds, in the placebo group. Foundayo is a small-molecule GLP-1 drug that can be taken without restrictions, unlike Wegovy which must be taken on an empty stomach. Foundayo also showed improvements in waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol.

  • The FDA approved Foundayo on April 1, 2026.
  • Foundayo is expected to begin shipping on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Eli Lilly and Company

An American pharmaceutical company that developed the weight loss pill Foundayo.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The U.S. federal agency that granted expedited approval for Eli Lilly's Foundayo weight loss pill.

Novo Nordisk

A Danish pharmaceutical company that developed the oral weight loss medication Wegovy, which was previously approved in the U.S.

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What’s next

Foundayo is expected to become available to patients with insurance coverage starting at $25 per month, while cash prices will range from $149 to $349 per month depending on the dosage.

The takeaway

The approval of Foundayo provides a new convenient oral option for treating obesity, which could help expand access to weight loss medications beyond the injectable GLP-1 drugs that have seen growing but still limited adoption due to their high costs.