GLP-1 Pills Compared: Wegovy Pill vs Foundayo vs Rybelsus
Three GLP-1 pills are approved in the US: Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes, and the Wegovy pill and Foundayo for weight loss. Here is what each is approved for, its lowest self-pay price and its most common side effect.
| Pill | Approved for | Form | Lowest self-pay price | Most common side effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wegovy pill semaglutide, Novo Nordisk | In adults, these tablets carry approval for weight loss and heart risk. | Daily pill | $149 Wegovy pill 1.5 mg | Same as the pen, mainly nausea |
 Rybelsus semaglutide, Novo Nordisk | Type 2 diabetes, Heart risk | daily tablet | $149 Ozempic pill, which replaces Rybelsus | Nausea 20% |
 Foundayo orforglipron, Eli Lilly | Weight loss | daily tablet | $149 | Nausea 35% |
Sources: NovoCare 1 2, FDA label (DailyMed).
A quick look at half-life and weight loss
Each drug's half-life in days appears in section 12.3 of its FDA label. It shows how long half of a dose takes to leave your body.
Percentage of body weight. Trials, doses and lengths differ, so check each one against the placebo listed on its own page.
Pill or injection
A pill suits people who prefer to avoid injections, and those who prefer not to keep a pen cold. Rybelsus and the Wegovy pill are semaglutide pills, and they carry the same molecule found in Ozempic and Wegovy pens. Eli Lilly makes Orforglipron (Foundayo), a different molecule that is not a peptide. Each label covers how to take the medicine, and the dose is decided by your prescriber.
Source: Eli Lilly.