FDA Approves Eli Lilly's GLP-1 Pill

Emily Mullin Science Apr 1, 2026 2:56 PM FDA Approves Eli Lilly's GLP-1 Pill Eli Lilly’s once-daily Foundayo is the second obesity pill to receive FDA approval. It will compete with Novo Nordisk’s pill version of Wegovy. Photograph: Raquel Natalicchio/Getty Images Save this story Save this story The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a new obesity pill called Foundayo. Taken once daily, the pill is made by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which also manufactures the popular weight-loss injection Zepbound. Foundayo is a type of medication known as a GLP-1 , a category that includes rivals Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs mimic a naturally occurring hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar, slows digestion, and signals a sense of fullness to the brain. It’s now the second GLP-1 pill for weight loss on the market. In December, Novo Nordisk received FDA approval for its pill form of Wegovy. The company’s original version of Wegovy is a weekly injectable. While the Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning, Lilly says Foundayo can be taken any time of day without food or water restrictions. With injectable GLP-1 drugs in high demand, pharma companies have been racing to develop weight-loss pills , which could be preferable for some patients and potentially expand the market for GLP-1s. Pills are also easier to manufacture than injectable medications, which could help maintain continual access for patients. GLP-1 medications were in severe shortage from late 2022 through early 2025 because demand outstripped manufacturing capacity. “Beyond supply and affordability, one of the bigger barriers to adoption has been that some patients just don't want to take an injection,” says Ken Custer, executive vice president of Eli Lilly. “That could be because it's a needle, but it also may just be that for them, an injection signifies that their condition is more severe than they feel it is at that point. For patients looking to get started ...