Wegovy vs. Foundayo: Comparing the Two Available Oral GLP-1s for Weight Loss

In December 2025, an oral form of Wegovy became the first FDA-approved oral GLP-1 for weight loss. On April 1st, Foundayo became the second. Now the question arises: is there any significant difference between the two?

How do Wegovy and Foundayo work?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that your gut produces in response to food. It helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels, slows down your digestion, and tells your brain that you are full.

Wegovy and Foundayo are GLP-1 receptor agonists. This means that they act on your body in the same way that natural GLP-1 does. They make you feel full and satisfied so that you eat less, thus resulting in weight loss.

How much weight can Wegovy and Foundayo help you lose?

In the 64 week long Wegovy clinical trial, adults without type 2 diabetes who took Wegovy had an average starting weight of 235 pounds. They lost an average of 14% of their bodyweight (about 33 pounds) over the course of the trial. Those who took placebo had an average starting weight of 231 pounds. They lost an average of 2.4% of their body weight (about 6 pounds).

In one of the 72 week long Foundayo clinical trials, adults without type 2 diabetes who took Foundayo had an average starting weight of 227 pounds. They lost an average of 11.1% of their bodyweight (about 25 pounds) over the course of the trial. Those who took placebo had an average starting weight of 229 pounds. They lost an average of 2.1% of their bodyweight (about 5 pounds).

These results were seen at the maximum dosage of each of these drugs.

It’s also important to note that study participants were advised to eat fewer calories and get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. People in the Wegovy study were specifically advised to eat 500 fewer calories per day.

How long do Wegovy and Foundayo take to start working?

Every patient reacts to medications in a different way. There is no guarantee on how long it will take for you to start losing weight with these medications. However, from the clinical trial data, it appears that on average people start to lose weight during the first month.

It is important to remember that people saw the weight loss results mentioned above after taking either medication for over a year.

What side effects can Wegovy and Foundayo cause?

Wegovy and Foundayo share many of the same side effects. The following are common side effects that both of these medications can cause:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Vomiting

• Upset stomach

• Stomach pain

• Headache

• Bloating

• Belching

• Heartburn

• Gas

• Tiredness

• Hair loss

Other common side effects of Wegovy include:

• Dizziness

• Low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

• Stomach flu

• Runny nose

• Sore throat

What are the warnings and precautions of Wegovy and Foundayo?

Wegovy and Foundayo also have similar warnings and precautions. A few of their shared warnings and precautions include risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, and low blood sugar.

The main difference between these two medications in this case is that Wegovy also has a warning for an increased heart rate at rest.

What drug interactions do Wegovy and Foundayo have?

Both Wegovy and Foundayo may affect the absorption of other oral medications. This is because they slow down the speed at which your stomach empties.

People who take insulin or medications that increase the release of insulin may need to lower the dose of those medications. This is because taking them with Wegovy or Foundayo increases the risk of low blood sugar.

Foundayo also has the potential for additional drug interactions. This is because Foundayo is broken down by an enzyme that also breaks down a lot of other medications. Therefore, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of other medications you are on.

How are Wegovy and Foundayo taken?

Wegovy is taken once a day in the morning with water. You have to wait 30 minutes after taking it before you eat anything or take other medications.

Foundayo is also taken once a day. Unlike Wegovy, it can be taken with or without food or water. You can also take it at the same time as other medications.

How much do Wegovy and Foundayo cost?

The cost of these medications for you will depend on your insurance. However, the companies that manufacture these medications each offer a savings card that can be used with insurance. With this savings card, you can pay as little as $25 per month for these medications.

If you don’t have insurance, you can self pay for either of these medications at a price of $149 per month for the starting dose.

So…is Wegovy or Foundayo better?

Patients on Wegovy had a higher percentage of weight loss (14% for Wegovy vs. 11.1% for Foundayo). However, these numbers are from separate clinical trials. There are no studies directly comparing Wegovy to Foundayo. Therefore, right now we can’t definitively say if one is more effective than the other.

Which one is better for you will depend on your specific circumstances. For example, one thing your doctor will consider is the other medications you are taking. Foundayo has more drug interactions, so perhaps Wegovy would be a better fit for you.

Or maybe you already take a medication that cannot be taken at the same time as other medications. Separating both that medication and Wegovy from other medications may be inconvenient. This might make Foundayo a better choice.

If you are interested in starting an oral GLP-1 for weight loss, talk to your doctor. They will work with you to decide if one of these medications could be a good fit for you.

References:

Foundayo [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2026.

Moiz A, Filion KB, Tsoukas MA, Yu OH, Peters TM, Eisenberg MJ. Mechanisms of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist-Induced Weight Loss: A Review of Central and Peripheral Pathways in Appetite and Energy Regulation. Am J Med. 2025 Jun;138(6):934-940. Doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2025.01.021

Wegovy [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk; 2026.

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Wharton S, Lingvay I, Bogdanski P, Duque do Vale R, Jacob S, Karlsson T, Shaji C, Rubino D, Garvey WT; OASIS 4 Study Group. Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025 Sep 18;393(11):1077-1087. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2500969.

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