Trending Now - Novo Executive Discusses FDA Approval of Lilly's Weight-loss Drug

WHO:

Bloomberg - Jamey Millar, executive vice president of US operations at Novo Nordisk.

NPR - Daniel Skovronsky, chief scientific and product officer at Eli Lilly.

NPR - Dr. Catherine Varney, obesity medicine director for UVA Health in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WHAT:

CBS News - Foundayo is the first oral GLP-1 weight loss pill that doesn't require fasting.

Bloomberg - Eli Lilly has not yet released a list price for Foundayo, which will determine insurance copays.

Bloomberg - Jamey Millar stated, "There is no head-to-head trial comparing the efficacy of orforglipron and Wegovy pill."

NPR - In clinical trials, patients taking the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of 27.3 pounds, or 12.4% of their body weight, compared with 2.2 pounds, or 0.9% of average body weight, for those getting a placebo.

NPR - The starting dose for Foundayo, like the Wegovy pill, is $149 a month for customers going outside their insurance and paying cash.

NPR - The cash price for Eli Lilly's obesity injection Zepbound is $299 a month.

Bloomberg - Jamey Millar stated, "Not all GLP-1s are the same. Any reports claiming orforglipron is more effective than Wegovy pill for weight management are inaccurate and misleading."

Bloomberg - The starting cash price for Foundayo is $149 per month, while Eli Lilly's injectable Zepbound costs $299 per month.

NPR - Eli Lilly's chief scientific and product officer, Daniel Skovronsky, mentioned, "We've created a small molecule chemical which gets in your body very well."

NPR - Eli Lilly expects that for people with commercial coverage, copays for Foundayo could be as low as $25 a month with an Eli Lilly savings card.

NPR - Starting in July 2026, people with Medicare coverage may be able to get Foundayo for $50 a month.

NPR - The FDA approved Eli Lilly's obesity pill, Foundayo, which is taken once daily.

NPR - Foundayo is the second GLP-1 pill approved for obesity treatment, following Wegovy from Novo Nordisk.

NPR - In clinical trials, patients taking the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of 27.3 pounds, or 12.4% of their body weight, over 72 weeks.

NPR - The most common side effects of Foundayo were nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.

NPR - The starting cash price for Foundayo is $149 per month, while Eli Lilly's injectable Zepbound costs $299 per month.

WHERE:

NPR - The FDA is based in the United States.

NPR - UVA Health is located in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WHEN:

NPR - The FDA approved Foundayo on March 31st, 2026.

NPR - The approval process for Foundayo took 50 days, the fastest for a brand-new kind of drug since 2002.

NPR - Eli Lilly expects Foundayo to be available on pharmacy shelves within a "week or two" from the approval date.

WHY:

NPR - Dr. Catherine Varney stated, "For her patients, the biggest barrier to getting care has been cost."

NPR - Dr. Catherine Varney stated, "I can tell you of over the 1,000 patients that I have on GLP-1 therapy, not once has needle phobia been an issue."

NPR - The FDA fast-tracked the approval of Foundayo as it is deemed a national priority.

NPR - Eli Lilly developed Foundayo with a new ingredient, orforglipron, to provide a more convenient option for patients compared to injections.

HOW:

Bloomberg - Eli Lilly has been manufacturing Foundayo pills for a while and expects to meet demand.

NPR - Eli Lilly has been manufacturing Foundayo pills for a while and should be able to meet demand.

NPR - Foundayo is designed to be taken without food or water restrictions, making it easier for patients to adhere to the regimen.

NPR - The Wegovy pill requires patients to take it on an empty stomach and fast for 30 minutes for it to work effectively.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 23:07 UTC)

Foundayo, the first oral GLP-1 weight loss pill that doesn't require fasting, has been announced by Eli Lilly, although the company has yet to release a list price that will influence insurance copays. Dr. Catherine Varney highlighted that cost has been the biggest barrier for her patients in accessing care. Eli Lilly has been producing Foundayo pills for some time and anticipates being able to meet the expected demand.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 19:19 UTC)

In a recent statement, Jamey Millar from Bloomberg noted that there is currently no head-to-head trial comparing the efficacy of orforglipron and the Wegovy pill. Meanwhile, clinical trials for Eli Lilly's Foundayo revealed that patients taking the highest dose lost an average of 27.3 pounds, significantly more than the 2.2 pounds lost by those on a placebo, with the starting cash price for Foundayo set at $149 a month. Dr. Catherine Varney emphasized that needle phobia has not been an issue for any of her over 1,000 patients on GLP-1 therapy, and Eli Lilly is prepared to meet the demand for Foundayo as they have been manufacturing the pills for some time.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 07:19 UTC)

Bloomberg reported that Jamey Millar emphasized the differences among GLP-1 medications, stating that claims about orforglipron being more effective than Wegovy for weight management are inaccurate. Eli Lilly has announced that its new medication, Foundayo, will start at a cash price of $149 per month, with potential copays as low as $25 for those with commercial coverage, and Medicare recipients may access it for $50 starting in July 20th26. Additionally, Eli Lilly's chief scientific and product officer, Daniel Skovronsky, noted that the company has developed a small molecule chemical that is effectively absorbed by the body, and they are prepared to meet the anticipated demand for Foundayo.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 05:30 UTC)

The FDA approved Eli Lilly's obesity pill, Foundayo, on Tuesday, marking the fastest approval process for a new drug since 2002, taking just 50 days. Foundayo, which is taken once daily and designed to be more convenient than injections, showed promising results in clinical trials where patients lost an average of 27.3 pounds over 72 weeks. With a starting cash price of $149 per month, Eli Lilly expects the pill to be available in pharmacies within a week or two.