What is Foundayo by Eli Lilly? In this article, you can read all about this new weight-loss supplement in tablet form, how it is expected to work, the recommended dosage, and why it is not yet available in Europe.
Foundayo is a new weight-loss drug from Eli Lilly. The active ingredient is called orforglipron. What makes Foundayo unique is that it comes in tablet form rather than as an injection. This makes the drug an attractive option for many people. However, it is important to make one thing clear straight away: Foundayo is currently only approved in the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In Europe, the product has not yet been approved and is therefore not yet available.
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is a medicine for long-term weight management. In the United States, it is approved for adults with obesity, or for adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related condition. Examples include high blood pressure or an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The medicine must be used in conjunction with a healthier diet and increased physical activity.
How effective is Foundayo?
Foundayo’s results are promising. In the Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial, participants on the highest dose lost an average of around 11.1% of their body weight. Among those who actually continued with the treatment, the average weight loss was 12.4%. Improvements were also observed in waist circumference, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, amongst other things.
That is a good result, but it is worth putting it into perspective. In the well-known STEP 1 study, Wegovy (semaglutide) showed an average weight loss of around 14.9%. In the SURMOUNT-1 study, tirzepatide even showed an average weight loss of around 20.9% at the highest dose. This suggests that the results for Foundayo are slightly below those of Wegovy, whilst tirzepatide currently still appears to be the most effective drug treatment within this class of medicines.
How do you use Foundayo?
According to the US product information, Foundayo is taken once a day. The dose is gradually increased to reduce the risk of side effects. The starting dose is 0.8 mg per day. Thereafter, the dose can be increased in increments of at least 30 days to 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg and up to 17.2 mg per day. One advantage of Foundayo is that, according to the US information, it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food or drink.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects are mainly gastrointestinal complaints. These include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain and a bloated or unsettled feeling in the stomach. In addition, the US information also includes warnings about conditions such as pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, dehydration and kidney problems.
Is Foundayo already available at Aevita?
Not yet. Foundayo is not currently available in Europe. We are therefore unable to offer this product at present. However, Aevita is closely monitoring the approval process in Europe. As soon as Foundayo becomes available in Europe and can be used in a medically responsible manner, we will, of course, give serious consideration to including it in our product range.
At Aevita, we believe it is important that weight-loss medication is always used as part of a properly supervised medical programme, with a constant focus on lifestyle, health and safety.
Sources: FDA, Eli Lilly, EMA, Emirates Drug Establishment/WAM, NEJM.
