Weight-loss pills challenge injections as the market shifts toward oral options

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 6, 2026

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The weight-loss drug market entered a new phase this week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s oral drug Foundayo, whose active ingredient is orforglipron. The approval adds a once-daily pill to a market long dominated by injections and comes at a time when GLP-1 medicines remain one of the biggest global health and lifestyle trends.

What makes this moment significant is not only the approval itself, but the change in patient behavior. In a Reuters report published today, obesity specialists said many first-time users are increasingly drawn to pills because they are easier to take, relatively cheaper, do not require refrigeration, and remove the fear of needles. Reuters also found that many oral GLP-1 users are newcomers to this category rather than patients switching from successful injectable treatment.

Foundayo is seen as a potentially strong competitor because it is taken once daily and can be used with or without food, unlike some oral alternatives with stricter timing rules. The FDA said the drug was approved for adults with obesity, or overweight adults with at least one weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Reuters reported that trials showed weight loss of about 12% to 15% of body weight.

Still, pills are not expected to fully replace injections. Doctors interviewed by Reuters said injectable medicines are still preferred in more severe obesity cases because some of them deliver greater weight loss, including results above 20% in trials. Even so, oral drugs are expected to expand the market by reaching people who were hesitant to start treatment in injectable form.

Cost remains a central issue. Reuters reported that the self-pay price for Foundayo starts at $149 per month at the lowest dose, lower than several major injectable options but still out of reach for many patients. Lilly also said it has submitted the drug for approval in more than 40 countries, with additional decisions expected later in 2026.

The official prescribing information also makes clear that Foundayo carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumor risk, should not be used with another GLP-1 drug, and includes warnings related to gastrointestinal side effects, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and kidney injury in some patients. In other words, the appeal of a simpler pill does not remove the need for medical supervision.