In short
Foundayo is a once-daily orforglipron tablet for chronic weight management, approved in the UAE by the Emirates Drug Establishment in April 2026. Unlike Wegovy tablets, Foundayo is taken without food or water restrictions. In a 72-week trial, adults without diabetes lost 11.2 percent of their body weight on average on the highest dose, compared with 2.1 percent on placebo. Foundayo needs a doctor’s prescription in Dubai.
Treatment Overview
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is a once-daily orforglipron tablet for chronic weight management, made by Eli Lilly. Orforglipron is a small-molecule oral GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) receptor agonist that reduces appetite and food intake like other GLP-1 medicines. Foundayo is taken without food or water restrictions, according to the Emirates Drug Establishment.
The Emirates Drug Establishment registered Foundayo on 3 April 2026, and the UAE was the second country worldwide to do so, according to the Emirates Drug Establishment.
Who qualifies for Foundayo?
Adults qualify for Foundayo with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition, the same criteria as for other weight loss medicines, when structured lifestyle change has not produced 5 percent weight loss. The full criteria and a 1-minute check: am I eligible for Mounjaro or Wegovy.
Clinical guidance names orforglipron as an option for people who cannot obtain or tolerate tirzepatide or semaglutide, and for people whose goal is less than 15 percent weight loss.
How is the Foundayo dose increased?
The orforglipron dose starts at 0.8 mg daily and rises every 30 days up to a maximum of 17.2 mg daily, according to the US prescribing information summarised in clinical guidance. The table lists the steps.
| Step | Daily dose |
|---|---|
| Start | 0.8 mg |
| 2 | 2.5 mg |
| 3 | 5.5 mg |
| 4 | 9 mg |
| 5 | 14.5 mg |
| Maximum | 17.2 mg |
Each step lasts at least 30 days, so the maximum dose is reached after about 5 months at the earliest. The lowest dose that reaches the goal is used, and a step is delayed when nausea is still strong.
How much weight do people lose on Foundayo?
Adults without diabetes lost 11.2 percent of their body weight on average after 72 weeks on the highest trial dose of orforglipron, compared with 2.1 percent on placebo, in a trial of 3,127 participants summarised in clinical guidance. For a person weighing 100 kg, that equals about 11 kg. The Emirates Drug Establishment cites 12.4 percent at the highest dose, from a different analysis of the trial results.
Clinical guidance judges the response after 12 weeks on the highest tolerated dose. Less than 4 to 5 percent weight loss at that point leads to a change of plan.
Which medicines interact with Foundayo?
Orforglipron is broken down by the liver enzyme CYP3A4, so medicines that block or speed up CYP3A4 can require a dose change, according to clinical guidance. This interaction is not a concern with the other GLP-1 medicines, so a full medicine list is part of the first visit.
Should you choose Foundayo or Wegovy tablets?
Foundayo and Wegovy tablets are both daily weight loss tablets and differ in routine, in average weight loss and in heart evidence. The table compares the two.
| Foundayo | Wegovy tablets | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Orforglipron | Semaglutide |
| How taken | Once a day, no food or water rules | Once a day, empty stomach, 30 minutes before food |
| Average weight loss in the main trial | 11.2 percent over 72 weeks | 13.6 percent over 64 weeks |
| Heart evidence | Not shown | Heart benefit shown for semaglutide and applied to the 25 mg tablet in the US |
| Medicine interactions | CYP3A4 interactions possible | Few interactions, but other morning tablets wait 30 minutes |
The trials enrolled different people, so the numbers are not a direct comparison. Details of the semaglutide tablet: Wegovy tablets.
Foundayo in Dubai and the UAE
Is Foundayo approved in the UAE?
Yes, the Emirates Drug Establishment registered Foundayo for chronic weight management on 3 April 2026 and announced availability for eligible patients from May 2026, according to its statement. Foundayo needs a prescription and a medical assessment first.
Where does Foundayo come from in Dubai?
Foundayo is dispensed by licensed pharmacies on a doctor’s prescription. The Emirates Drug Establishment advises buying medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised healthcare facilities, and in July 2026 it took action against 71 sources selling unapproved weight loss peptides.
Can Foundayo be taken during Ramadan?
GLP-1-based medicines can usually be continued during Ramadan, but are not started in the weeks just before the fast, according to clinical guidance on religious fasting, which comes mainly from people with diabetes. Insulin and sulfonylureas need a separate plan because fasting raises the risk of low blood sugar.
All weight loss medicines in one overview: GLP-1 weight loss treatment. The weekly injection with the largest average weight loss: Mounjaro for weight loss.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
- Adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea.
- Adults who prefer a daily tablet without an empty-stomach routine.
- Adults whose weight loss goal is below 15 percent, or who cannot obtain or tolerate the injections.
- Adults ready for monthly dose steps, regular reviews and long-term treatment.
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2): GLP-1 medicines are not used.
- Pregnancy, plans to conceive soon, or breastfeeding: Foundayo is not used.
- Medicines that strongly block or speed up CYP3A4: dose change or another option needed.
- Previous pancreatitis: considered only if the cause has been resolved.
What Happens During the Consultation
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1
Goals and history
Dr Felix reviews weight history, previous attempts, diagnosed conditions, pregnancy plans and your weight loss goal, which guides the choice of medicine.
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2
Medical review
Examination, weight, waist, blood pressure, blood tests where needed and a full medicine list, because orforglipron interacts with some medicines.
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3
Suitability decision
Dr Felix gives a clear yes or no and explains whether Foundayo, Wegovy tablets or an injection fits your goal better.
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4
Personal plan
The plan sets the dose steps, protein and training targets, what to do about nausea and the review dates.
Program Structure & Follow-Up
How is Foundayo treatment monitored?
Foundayo treatment is monitored every 4 to 6 weeks while the dose rises, then about every 2 to 3 months, in line with clinical guidance. The reviews cover the following points:
- Tolerance: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, reflux, and symptoms of pancreatitis or gallbladder disease
- Weight and health: weight, waist, blood pressure and blood tests at agreed points
- New medicines: every new prescription checked for CYP3A4 interactions
Muscle is protected through enough protein, strength training and body composition checks: how muscle is protected on GLP-1 medicines. Between appointments, patients can contact the practice directly through the Weight Loss Membership.
What happens after stopping Foundayo?
After stopping obesity medicines, most people regain a large part of the weight they lost. A meta-analysis of 37 studies found an average regain of 0.4 kg per month, with a projected return to the starting weight within about two years. The plan for that phase: weight maintenance.
Benefits, Limits & Safety
What are the side effects of Foundayo?
The most common side effects of Foundayo are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation, as with other GLP-1 medicines. Across GLP-1-based medicines, 25 to 40 percent of patients experience nausea and about 10 to 20 percent vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, usually mild to moderate and worst after a dose increase.
Serious but less common problems reported with GLP-1-based medicines are gallbladder disease, bowel obstruction and pancreatitis. Severe abdominal pain that spreads to the back, especially with vomiting, needs urgent medical assessment.
What are the limits of Foundayo?
Foundayo produces less average weight loss than tirzepatide or injected semaglutide and has no proven heart benefit, according to clinical guidance. Foundayo works only while it is taken, and long-term safety data for the newer GLP-1 medicines are still limited.
Oral contraception and pregnancy
The current US Foundayo prescribing information advises users of oral hormonal contraception to use a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 30 days after starting and for 30 days after every dose increase. Ask your prescriber to check the current UAE product instructions and your medicines. Foundayo is not used for weight loss during pregnancy.
What the evidence shows
11.2 percent average weight loss over 72 weeks on the highest trial dose, against 2.1 percent on placebo, in adults without diabetes.
How you are followed
Reviews every 4 to 6 weeks during dose steps, then about every 2 to 3 months, including a check of new medicines for interactions.
When Foundayo is not used
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2. Strong CYP3A4 interactions need a dose change or another option.
Cost & Program Investment
What Foundayo treatment costs depends on the dose and the length of treatment. Dr Felix explains the figure before any prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Foundayo is registered in the UAE by the Emirates Drug Establishment since April 2026 and is dispensed by licensed pharmacies on a doctor’s prescription. A consultation with an examination comes first.
No, Foundayo is taken once a day without food or water restrictions, according to the Emirates Drug Establishment. This is the main practical difference to Wegovy tablets, which need an empty stomach and 30 minutes before food.
No, Foundayo produced less average weight loss in trials than tirzepatide, the active ingredient of Mounjaro. Clinical guidance prefers tirzepatide or semaglutide when the goal is 15 percent weight loss or more.
The cost of Foundayo in Dubai depends on the dose and the length of treatment. Dr Felix explains the full cost in the consultation before anything is prescribed.
Evidence
Where this information comes from
Every figure on this page is taken from the sources below. All of them are free to read, so you can check them yourself.
- Emirates Drug Establishment approves oral obesity treatment
- UAE weight loss drug crackdown: 71 sources, 14 influencers face action
- Overweight and obesity management (NG246)
- Obesity and overweight
This page is general medical information and does not replace a personal consultation. Trial results are averages across large groups, not a prediction for any one person.