Eli Lilly's oral weight-loss drug GLP-1 approved by the U.S. FDA for sale

SighingCashier · 2026-04-02T00:45:49+00:00

Lilly's GLP-1 weight loss drug Foundayo has received FDA approval in the United States, marking an important milestone. This medication is taken once daily, and for insured patients, the monthly cost is only $25. By 2030, it is projected that Foundayo will generate annual sales of $14.79 billion, competing with industry rivals Novo Nordisk.

SighingCashier

2026-04-02 00:45:49

Abstract generation in progress

Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug GLP-1 received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing, to help patients lose weight or maintain their previous weight-loss results.

Lilly said that FDA approval for the sale of GLP-1 is an important milestone for the group and will test the market outlook for a new generation of weight-loss drugs.

Under a new FDA program, the drug’s review process will not exceed four months. The program is designed to speed up the time to market for potential drugs that align with U.S. priorities, provide innovative therapies, or address unmet medical needs.

Lilly’s oral medication is named Foundayo and is taken once daily. Patients with health insurance can use a Lilly coupon to pay $25 per month. Self-pay patients must pay between $149 and $349, depending on the dosage.

Lilly’s oral drug adds to the pressure Novo Nordisk is facing, and Novo Nordisk rolled out an oral weight-loss drug earlier this year.

In 2018, Lilly obtained a license for Orforglipron from the Japanese pharmaceutical company Chugai, paying only a $50 million upfront payment to secure the drug’s global rights. Compared with Lilly’s best-selling injectable Zepbound, Orforglipron’s weight-loss effect is not significant, raising questions about how far this type of drug can go when millions of people seemingly are satisfied with a once-weekly injection.

Based on FactSet data, analysts expect that by 2030, Foundayo’s sales will reach $14.79 billion. By comparison, the expected sales of weight-loss drug Zepbound are $24.68 billion, while Mounjaro’s expected sales are as high as $44.87 billion. In the U.S., Mounjaro is used to treat diabetes; in other parts of the world, it is used to treat obesity and diabetes.

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