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GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide may help people avoid developing dependence on drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and cocaine, a study has found.
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The Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s new weight loss drug on April 1, giving consumers a second option in the growing non-injectable GLP-1 weight loss drug market.
Lilly has announced that it will sell a weight loss drug under the brand name “Foundayo.” The FDA has approved a once-daily prescription drug for overweight adults who are obese or have weight-related medical problems.
The introduction of Foundayo gives consumers a new option for GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Novo Nordisk’s Wigoby was the only FDA-approved GLP-1 pill available after December 2025.
Both Lilly and Novo Nordisk are betting that their daily weight-loss drugs will become a popular option for consumers who want to avoid injections or who have been reluctant to take weight-loss drugs.
Consumers whose insurance does not cover weight loss drugs can purchase Foundayo for $149 for a minimum one-month dose and up to $349 for additional monthly doses. Foundayo’s co-pay program starts at $299 for a one-month prescription for higher doses.
Lilly said people with insurance that covers weight loss drugs could pay as little as $25 a month with a Foundayo savings card.
In clinical trials, people who started and continued on the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of about 27 pounds, compared to about 2 pounds for those taking a placebo.
According to the FDA, this drug can cause side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, belching, reflux, gas, and hair loss.
David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, said that fewer than 1 in 10 people who could benefit from GLP-1 are taking it.
“We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for people who are obese, overweight and have weight-related complications,” Ricks said in a statement.
Dan Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific and product officer, told USA TODAY that the weight-loss drug should also help overcome barriers such as obesity stigma and reluctance to receive injections.
Because so many adults already take oral medications to manage blood pressure and cholesterol, people may be more willing to take pills to treat obesity.
The option of taking a pill “would turn weight maintenance into something very similar to (controlling) cholesterol or blood pressure,” Skovronsky said.
Will this start a new round of GLP-1 wars?
The launch of Foundayo puts Lilly in the crosshairs of rival Novo Nordisk’s popular weight-loss drug Wigoby.
Since Novo Nordisk launched Wigovy tablets following approval in December, demand for the oral drug has skyrocketed, with more than 600,000 prescriptions filled.
This is similar to when rivals sparred over anti-obesity drugs. Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo’s Wegovy are injectable weight loss drugs that are fueling global demand for weight loss drugs. Goldman Sachs predicts global anti-obesity drug sales will reach $105 billion by 2030.
However, health insurance companies have been slow to cover these popular weight loss drugs to consumers. A study by benefits consultant Mercer found that 49% of large employers will pay for GLP-1 drugs for obesity in 2025. Another study by the health policy nonprofit KFF found that 43% of large employers will be paying for anti-obesity drugs in 2025.
Both Lilly and Novo offer drug discounts to customers whose insurance does not cover anti-obesity drugs.
On March 31, Novo launched Wegovy’s subscription plan for self-pay patients. Customers receive nearly 30% off when they subscribe to medications through our telemedicine partners Ro, Weight Watchers, and LifeMD.
Wegovy’s subscription plans have monthly costs of $289 for a 3-month subscription, $269 for a 6-month subscription, and $249 for a 12-month subscription. These discounts range from 3% to 17% of Wegovy pills’ monthly price of $299.
