Foundayo is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related condition, and separately for improving blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. According to the UK licensing, the only absolute contraindication is hypersensitivity to orforglipron or any of its ingredients. However, our pharmacy applies additional prescribing criteria, and we will not prescribe Foundayo to anyone with a personal history of pancreatitis. Treatment is also not appropriate in pregnancy, where there is a personal or family history of certain thyroid cancers, or where another GLP-1 medicine is already being taken. Some other conditions — such as severe digestive conditions or diabetic eye disease — require individual assessment rather than ruling treatment out automatically. Your clinical team will review your full medical history during your consultation before any prescription is issued.
Foundayo's core eligibility criteria mirror those used across the GLP-1 weight-management class in the UK:
- A BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes
- Aged 18 or over
- Willing and able to follow the accompanying dietary and lifestyle guidance, since Foundayo is licensed for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not as a standalone treatment
Foundayo also holds a separate UK licence for improving blood sugar control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise — a dual authorisation shared with only a small number of other GLP-1 medicines.
Situations Where Foundayo Isn't AppropriateA small number of situations mean Foundayo shouldn't be prescribed, based on the UK licensing and manufacturer guidance.
| Situation | Why |
|---|---|
| Hypersensitivity to orforglipron or any excipient | The only absolute contraindication in the UK licensing |
| Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 | A precautionary exclusion shared across the GLP-1 class, reflecting findings in animal studies |
| Pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive | Not recommended — weight loss offers no benefit during pregnancy and animal studies suggest a possible risk to the fetus |
| Already taking another GLP-1 receptor agonist | Combining GLP-1 medicines, including with each other, isn't recommended |
| Severe hepatic impairment | Not recommended — orforglipron exposure is substantially increased in severe liver impairment |
| Severe heart failure (NYHA class IV) | Not recommended, due to a lack of clinical experience in this group |
| Personal history of pancreatitis | Happy Pharmacy's own additional prescribing criteria — orforglipron hasn't been specifically studied in this group |
Several other situations don't automatically rule out Foundayo, but do need individual assessment with your prescriber, who will weigh your specific circumstances before deciding whether — and how cautiously — to proceed.
Severe Gastrointestinal Disease
Conditions like severe gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) haven't been specifically studied with Foundayo, and since the medicine itself further slows gastric emptying, this needs careful individual assessment.
Diabetic Retinopathy or Macular Oedema
If you have a history of diabetic eye disease, Foundayo can be used with caution, but your prescriber will want to monitor for any progression, consistent with guidance across the GLP-1 class.
Mild to Moderate Hepatic Impairment
No dose adjustment is needed for mild or moderate liver impairment, but it's still important information for your prescriber to have as part of your overall assessment.
Renal Impairment
Reassuring detail
Unlike some medicines, no dose adjustment is needed for Foundayo in people with kidney impairment, including end-stage renal disease — studies found no meaningful change in how the drug behaves in the body across this group. Your prescriber will still monitor kidney function if you experience side effects that could lead to dehydration, such as persistent vomiting or diarrhoea.
Taking Hormonal Contraceptives
Foundayo can reduce the absorption of oral contraceptives, particularly in the 30 days after starting treatment and the 30 days after each dose increase. This doesn't rule out treatment, but it does mean discussing contraceptive planning with your prescriber — see our dedicated guide to Foundayo side effects for more detail.
Taking Medicines That Affect Liver Enzyme Metabolism
Orforglipron is broken down in the body via a liver enzyme pathway (CYP3A4), and certain other medicines can reduce its levels and effectiveness by affecting this pathway. This is exactly the kind of detail your prescriber needs your full medication list for — always disclose every medicine and supplement you currently take during your consultation, not just the ones that seem obviously relevant.
Foundayo is one of a small number of GLP-1 medicines authorised in the UK for two separate purposes: weight management in adults meeting the BMI criteria above, and improving blood sugar control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, used alongside diet and exercise. These are assessed as genuinely separate clinical indications — eligibility for one doesn't automatically confirm eligibility for the other, and your prescriber will consider which licensed use applies to your specific circumstances during your consultation.
Age and Other General ConsiderationsFoundayo's clinical trials included adults across a wide age range, and there's no upper age limit written into the licensing. As with any new medicine, older adults or those with multiple existing health conditions may simply need a more thorough assessment during their consultation, rather than being automatically excluded — the same principle of individual review applies throughout, regardless of age.
If You Don't Meet the Criteria TodayEligibility criteria aren't fixed forever — if your BMI, weight-related conditions, or overall health picture change, it's worth revisiting the question in future rather than assuming a single assessment is final. Equally, if Foundayo isn't right for you, that doesn't mean weight-loss treatment more broadly is off the table: Mounjaro and the Wegovy injection are both already available, and depending on your specific situation, one of these may be a more suitable starting point. A consultation is designed to find the right treatment for you, not to fit you to a single predetermined product.
Why Eligibility Criteria ExistIt's worth understanding that eligibility criteria aren't arbitrary hurdles — they reflect where the clinical evidence is genuinely strongest and safest. Many of the situations above (severe gastroparesis, a history of pancreatitis, significant liver impairment) simply weren't well represented in Foundayo's clinical trial programme, which means there isn't robust safety data to confirm how the medicine behaves in those specific circumstances. Rather than guessing, careful individual assessment — or in some cases, a different treatment altogether — protects you from being prescribed something without the evidence base to support it being both safe and effective for your particular situation.
What Happens During Your Eligibility AssessmentWhen Foundayo becomes available to order, your eligibility will be confirmed through a free online consultation with our GPhC-registered pharmacy team. This covers your current BMI and weight history, any existing health conditions (particularly those listed above), your full current medication list including any supplements, and your family medical history where relevant — particularly regarding thyroid conditions. This isn't a formality; it's a genuine clinical review designed to confirm Foundayo is an appropriate and safe choice for you specifically, not just a box-ticking exercise before a sale.
Important
Always disclose your complete medical history and current medications during your consultation, even details that feel unrelated or embarrassing to mention. Eligibility criteria exist to protect your safety, not to create unnecessary hurdles — omitting relevant information can lead to a treatment being prescribed when it genuinely isn't the right or safest choice for you.
Be the First to Know When Foundayo® Launches
Foundayo® was authorised by the MHRA on 10 August 2026 and is expected to reach UK pharmacies in the coming weeks. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as it is available to order — your eligibility will always be confirmed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy team before any prescription is issued.
Happy Pharmacy is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (No. 9012585) — Superintendent Pharmacist: Palvinder Deol — Rated 4.8★ Excellent on Trustpilot- Foundayo® (orforglipron) Summary of Product Characteristics, MHRA Products website.
- Eli Lilly and Company. Foundayo™ (orforglipron) full Prescribing Information, pi.lilly.com.
- Eli Lilly and Company. Foundayo™ (orforglipron) Medication Guide, lilly.com.
- MHRA. UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes, 10 August 2026.
- Wharton S, et al. ATTAIN-1. N Engl J Med, September 2025.