Eli Lilly wins approval for new weight-loss pill. What to know

The Food and Drug Administration on April 1 approved Eli Lilly's new weight-loss pill, giving consumers a second option in the growing non-injectable GLP-1 weight-loss drug market.

Lilly said it will sell its weight-loss pill under the brand name Foundayo. The FDA approved the once-daily prescription pill for adults who have obesity or are overweight with weight-related medical problems.

The emergence of Foundayo gives consumers another GLP-1 weight-loss pill option. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy had been the only FDA-approved GLP-1 pill available since December 2025.

Both Lilly and Novo Nordisk are betting daily weight-loss pills will be a popular option for consumers who want to avoid a shot or have been reluctant to take weight-loss medication.

Consumers whose insurance doesn't cover weight-loss medications can purchase Foundayo at $149 for a one-month supply of the lowest dose and up to $349 for additional monthly doses. Higher doses begin at $299 for a one‑month prescription under Foundayo's self-pay program.

People with insurance that covers weight-loss drugs might pay as little as $25 per month with a Foundayo savings card, Lilly said.

In a clinical trial, people who initiated and stayed on the highest dose of Foundayo lost an average of about 27 pounds, compared with about 2 pounds on a placebo.

The medication can cause side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain, headache, fatigue, burping, reflux disease, gas and hair loss, the FDA said.

David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, said fewer than 1 in 10 people who could benefit from a GLP-1 are taking one.

"We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for those living with obesity or who are overweight and living with weight-related complications,” Ricks said in a statement.

Dan Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific and product officer, told USA TODAY that a weight-loss pill also should help people overcome barriers such as stigma about obesity or unwillingness to get a shot.

People might be more willing to take a pill to treat obesity because so many adults already take oral medicines to manage blood pressure and cholesterol.

With the option of taking a pill, "We're going to change weight maintenance to be something very much like [managing] cholesterol and blood pressure," Skovronsky said.

Will this kick off a new round of GLP-1 wars?

With the launch of Foundayo, Lilly will take aim at rival Novo Nordisk's popular weight-loss pill Wegovy.

Since Novo Nordisk launched its Wegovy pill following its December approval, demand for the oral medication has soared with more than 600,000 prescriptions.

It's similar to how the rivals sparred over anti-obesity shots. Lilly's Zepbound and Novo's Wegovy are injectable weight-loss drugs that have accelerated global demand for weight-loss medications. Goldman Sachs projects global anti-obesity drug sales will reach $105 billion by 2030.

But health insurance companies have been slow to cover these popular weight-loss medications for consumers. A survey by benefits consultant Mercer found 49% of large employers covered GLP-1 medications for obesity in 2025. Another survey by health policy nonprofit KFF found 43% of larger employers in 2025 paid for anti-obesity drugs.

Both Lilly and Novo have discounted medications for customers whose insurance doesn't cover anti-obesity drugs.

On March 31, Novo launched a subscription plan for Wegovy's self-pay patients. Customers will get discounts of nearly 30% if they subscribe to the medications through telehealth partners Ro, Weight Watchers ​and LifeMD.

Under the subscription plan, the Wegovy pill will have monthly costs of $289 for a three-month subscription, $269 for a six-month subscription and $249 for a 12-month subscription. Those discounts range from 3% to 17% of the Wegovy pill's $299 monthly price.