Foundayo® Tablets

What are Foundayo tablets?

Foundayo tablets contain orforglipron. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have approved this medication for use in the UK to manage weight loss and help control type 2 diabetes.

How does Foundayo work?

Foundayo tablets contain the active ingredient, orforglipron. This is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimicking the glucagon-like peptide 1 hormone our bodies produce when we eat. The effects this hormone has on our bodies are:

• Affecting blood sugar levels
• Slowing digestion
• Feeling fuller for longer, leading to a lower appetite

It is important Foundayo is not used alone, but used to support positive lifestyle modifications including a balanced reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. 

How effective is Foundayo?

The ATTAIN-1 clinical trial (following 3127 adults with obesity) resulted in patients on 36 mg of orforglipron losing 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks compared to placebo. This treatment was given alongside several healthy lifestyle changes (like increased exercise and healthier diet) which would have also contributed. 

Who can take Foundayo tablets?

Foundayo is a prescription-only medicine (POM). You can only be prescribed Foundayo if it has been considered an appropriate treatment for you by a clinician. Foundayo is not suitable for everyone.

According to the patient information leaflet, Foundayo should be used alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity in adults with either:

• A BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater
• A BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but less than 30 kg/m² with at least one ‘weight related health problem) like high blood pressure or history of heart attack / stroke
  

Who can't take Foundayo tablets?

Do not take Foundayo if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are planning on having a baby as the effects of Foundayo on this aren’t known. If you have had a baby, it’s recommended that Foundayo is not used during breast feeding.

Orforglipron, the active ingredient in Foundayo, may reduce the effectiveness of contraceptive pills. If you are taking these, it is recommended that you use a non-oral contraceptive method (i.e. condoms) for:

• 30 days after starting Foundayo
• 30 days after each increase in dose
  

How do you take Foundayo?

Foundayo should be taken once daily, at any time of day. It should be swallowed whole (there are no food or fluid restrictions while taking the tablet).

The starting dose of Foundayo is 0.8mg daily, which - if appropriate - may be increased after at least 30 days. This gradual increase reduces the chances of side effects.

For a list of the available dosages, see above.

If you forget to take Foundayo, take your dose as soon as you remember. Don’t take more than one dose a day or take a ‘double dose’ to make up for a lost dose.

Do not stop taking Foundayo without talking to your doctor.

Foundayo side effects

You may experience side effects while taking Foundayo (though some patients don’t get them).

For a full run down of side effects, consult section 4 of the Foundayo patient information leaflet.

Very common side effects – those that may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include:

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting

These side effects are most common when first starting treatment – usually they are not severe and decrease over time. Get in contact with a clinician if side effects worsen or remain.

Make sure to drink fluids if experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting as these can lead to dehydration.

Other side effects include:

• Hypoglycaemia

  Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is a possible side effect of Orforglipron and can be more or less likely depending on additional medication you are taking.

  • Very common (can affect more than 1 in 10 people) – If used with insulin with or without metformin and/or sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors
  • Common (can affect more than 1 in 10 people) – If used with medicines that contain a sulfonylurea alone or combined with up to two additional diabetes medications for type 2 diabetes
  • Uncommon (can affect up to 1 in 100 people) – Used without insulin or sulfonylurea

  Your doctor may change the dosage of your medicines before starting Foundayo.
  

  Warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:

  • Cold sweat
  • Shaking
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Cool pale skin
  • Headache
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Nausea (or hunger)
  • Changes in vision
  • Feeling sleepy or weak
  • Feeling nervous, anxious or confused

  Follow the treatment plan agreed with your diabetes care team if you start suffering from hypoglycaemia.

  Call 999 if hypoglycaemia leads to unconsciousness, a seizure or the inability to swallow safely.
  

• Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Fast pulse
  • Low blood pressure
  • Stomach bloating
  • Burping
  • Reflux / heartburn
  • Gas
  • Gallstones
  • Hair loss
  • Fatigue
  • Increased levels of pancreatic enzymes in blood
    

• Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

  • Changes to sense of taste
  • Changes to sense of touch
    

• Serious side effects

  Serious side effects from Foundayo can include an inflamed pancreas, which could cause severe pain in the stomach and back. This is an uncommon side effect, which may affect up to 1 in 100 people.

  Other serious side effects (whose frequency cannot currently be estimated from the available data) include:

  • Changes to vision
  • Bowel obstruction, which can cause severe tummy pain
  • Severe constipation
  • Serious allergic reactions
  • Chance of food or liquid getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures
  • Kidney problems

  If you experience these serious side effects, stop taking Foundayo and seek immediate medical help. Call 999 immediately.
  

If you experience side effects, talk to a doctor, nurse, clinician or pharmacist. You can also report side effects via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme (bear in mind reporting isn’t a replacement for seeking medical / emergency help).

If you need help due to side effects, call either 111 or 999 depending on the urgency:

• 111 if it is urgent but not life threatening
• 999 for emergencies

Message our clinicians through your account if you have routine questions about treatment (you should usually receive a same-day response if you message before 4pm).

Will I get side effects from Foundayo?

Side effects may occur at any point during treatment however, you are more likely to experience side effects at the start of treatment, or at the start of an increased dose. These usually reduce in time. It is important to speak to your clinician if your side effects do not improve, or not manageable or worsen. 

How long do Foundayo side effects last?

Common side effects like nausea and constipation can improve as your body gets used to a new dose. 

If your symptoms do not improve, are not manageable or worsen, or if you experience rarer or more serious side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or clinician and they will help determine if Foundayo is still a suitable treatment for you.