Wegovy Pill vs Foundayo: Weight Loss, Dosing Rules, Price
Wegovy pill (semaglutide) and Foundayo (orforglipron) are both GLP-1 medicines, each a daily tablet. In their own trials, average weight loss was 14.9% and 11.1%. Self-pay starts at $149 per month for Wegovy pill and $149 per month for Foundayo.
A quick overview of Wegovy and Foundayo
Comparing the Wegovy pill with Foundayo
| Wegovy pill | Foundayo | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Wegovy pill |  Foundayo |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | orforglipron |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| How it is taken | Daily tablet | Daily tablet |
| Approved for | Weight loss, heart risk and MASH liver disease | Weight loss |
| First FDA approval | 2021 | 2026 |
| Average weight loss in trials | 14.9% (STEP 1, 68 weeks) | 11.1% (ATTAIN-1, 72 weeks) |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 44% vs 16% on placebo | Nausea 35% vs 10% on placebo |
| List price | $1,349.02 per month | $649 per month |
| Self-pay from | $149 per month | $149 per month |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 per month, eligible Part D | $50 per month, eligible Part D |
| FDA shortage | Resolved February 21, 2025 | Not listed |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), TrumpRx, pricinginfo.lilly.com.
A comparison of weight loss
They come from separate trials, since no trial has compared them directly. The people and the lengths differ.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | Average weight loss | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OASIS 4 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 64 weeks | Wegovy pill 25 mg daily | 13.6% | 2.4% |
| STEP 1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 68 weeks | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 14.9% | 2.4% |
| STEP 2 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes | 68 weeks | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 9.6% | 3.4% |
| ATTAIN-1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 72 weeks | Foundayo 5.5 mg daily | 7.4% | 2.1% |
| ATTAIN-1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 72 weeks | Foundayo 9 mg daily | 8.3% | 2.1% |
| ATTAIN-1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 72 weeks | Foundayo 17.2 mg daily | 11.1% | 2.1% |
| ATTAIN-2 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Foundayo 5.5 mg daily | 5.1% | 2.5% |
| ATTAIN-2 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Foundayo 9 mg daily | 7% | 2.5% |
| ATTAIN-2 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Foundayo 17.2 mg daily | 9.6% | 2.5% |
The figures come from these sources: OASIS 4 (FDA label (DailyMed)), STEP 2 (PubMed), STEP TEENS (PubMed), and ATTAIN-1 (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Side effects side by side
Each label tested a separate group of people against a placebo. Compare each drug with the placebo from its own trials first.
| Side effect | Wegovy | Placebo (Wegovy trials) | Foundayo | Placebo (Foundayo trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% | 16% | 35% | 10% |
| Diarrhea | 30% | 16% | 25% | 11% |
| Vomiting | 24% | 6% | 24% | 4% |
| Constipation | 24% | 11% | 27% | 9% |
| Abdominal Pain | 20% | 10% | 14% | 7% |
| Headache | 14% | 10% | 9% | 7% |
| Fatigue | 11% | 5% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Dyspepsia | 9% | 3% | 16% | 4% |
| Abdominal distension | Not listed | Not listed | 9% | 3% |
Price and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | List price before insurance | $1,349.02 per month |
| Wegovy | Wegovy Savings Offer (insured) | from $25 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 1.5 mg | $149 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 4 mg | $199 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 9 mg and 25 mg | $299 per month |
| Wegovy | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (Wegovy, eligible Part D) | $50 per month |
| Foundayo | List price before insurance | $649 per month |
| Foundayo | Foundayo Savings Card (insured) | from $25 per month |
| Foundayo | Self-pay: LillyDirect 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg | $149 per month |
| Foundayo | Self-pay: LillyDirect 5.5 mg | $199 per month |
| Foundayo | Self-pay: LillyDirect 9 mg | $299 per month |
| Foundayo | For LillyDirect doses of 17.2 mg and 14.5 mg, the self-pay option requires a refill within 45 days | $299 per month |
| Foundayo | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (Foundayo, eligible Part D) | $50 per month |
Price checks were done in November 2026 using TrumpRx, NovoCare, CMS, pricinginfo.lilly.com, foundayo.lilly.com, and Eli Lilly.
Who should pick which?
- MASH liver disease: the Wegovy pill is approved for this.
- Heart risk: the Wegovy pill is approved to lower heart attack and stroke risk.
- The Wegovy pill has approval to treat certain children under 18
Your prescriber considers other medicines, your health history and your coverage.