Goodbye Ozempic, The FDA Approved A New GLP-1 Pill For Weight Loss

GLP-1 drugs designed to treat obesity like Wegovy — the versionof Ozempic approved for weight loss — and Zepbound have revolutionized the world of those suffering from food addictions or wanting to improve their bodies, thanks to their ability to increase feelings of satiety while combatting the "food noise" that plagues many obese patients. But the thought of regular injections has kept some from using them, so the news that pill-based GLP-1 options are becoming available may open up the doors to weight loss even further.

In 2025, the FDA approved Novo Norodisk's pill-based Wegovy option but only recently cleared Eli Lilly's daily GLP-1 pill Foundayo. For those who were unable to get insurance to cover the costly injections or don't want to risk injecting so-called "research peptides," these pills may be another option as tablets typically tend to cost less than injectables. But before you head to the doctor's office to switch off of Ozempic injections or begin a GLP-1 regimen for the first time, it's important that you understand these pills aren't a 1:1 substitute since dosage, schedules, and even outcomes can be different from what you're used to.

Wegovy begins as a weekly injection of 0.25 milligrams and gradually increases to 2.4 milligrams. Zepbound (Eli Lily's injectable GLP-1 agonist) also has a weekly dose, but starts at 2.5 milligrams and gradually increases to 15 milligrams. Meanwhile, the Wegovy pill begins at 1.5 milligrams and increases up to 25 milligrams. Foundayo starts at 0.8 milligrams and increases to 17.2 milligrams. Both are taken daily and so far seem to have the same side effects of their injectable counterparts.

While Foundayo can be taken at any time, the Wegovy pill contains additives that help the stomach absorb it, but lose steam when stomach acid is at its peak — right after eating — so it should be taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. In terms of efficacy, a 2025 study found that users taking the Wegovy pill lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight as compared to a 2021 study that found a 15% reduction when injecting the medication. 

Foundayo users at the max dosage level lost about 12% of their body weight. However, it's tough to compare results from Foundayo — which uses the GLP-1 agonist orforglipron —  to Zepound's, which uses uses the GIP and GLP-1 agonist tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 agonist. Also, little research has been done on how these pills combat the rebound effect many patients see when getting off of GLP-1s or how they affect other conditions GLP-1 injections have been shown to help, like ADHD, binge-eating disorder, depression, and anxiety.