Two once-daily tablets now treat obesity in the United States. One is a small molecule; the other is semaglutide in tablet form. They are the rare pair that needs no unit conversion: same schedule, same bottle count, same 30-day month. What the prices actually buy is set out below.
| Stage | Foundayo (orforglipron) | Wegovy tablets (semaglutide) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting dose | $149 (0.8 mg) | $149 (1.5 mg) |
| Second step | $149 (2.5 mg) | $199 (4 mg) |
| Third step | $199 (5.5 mg) | $299 (9 mg) |
| Maintenance | $299 (17.2 mg, refill within 45 days) | $299 (25 mg) |
| A month is | 30 days, 30 tablets | 30 days, one bottle of 30 |
The first step costs the same on both. Maintenance costs the same too, on the offer price. The steps in between are priced differently, and they name different milligrams, so only the ends are worth comparing. Each drug on its own is priced in orforglipron price and Wegovy pill cost.
The Foundayo price has a condition attached
Two of Lilly’s figures are temporary, and two more depend on a refill clock. The savings-card terms print the regular prices that apply otherwise[1].
| Dose | Price today | Regular price |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8 mg | $149 | $149, the same |
| 2.5 mg | $149 | $199, $50 higher |
| 5.5 mg | $199 | $299, $100 higher |
| 9 mg | $299 | $299, the same |
| 14.5 mg | $299 | $349, $50 higher |
| 17.2 mg | $299 | $349, $50 higher |
The purchase offer holds the top two doses at $299[1]. It applies only when the next refill is bought within 45 days of the last delivery[1]. A late refill moves to the regular price.
What the two tablets are approved to do
Foundayo is indicated with a reduced-calorie diet and more activity[2]. It is for adults with obesity, or with overweight plus one weight-related condition[2].
The Wegovy tablet carries a wider label. Its maintenance dose of 25 mg once daily is for cardiovascular risk reduction and weight reduction in adults[3].
Both climb slowly. Foundayo moves up after at least 30 days on each dose, to a maximum of 17.2 mg[2]. The Wegovy tablet starts at 1.5 mg and titrates every 30 days[3].
What each trial reported
Foundayo’s label reports a 72-week trial of 3,127 adults with obesity and no diabetes[2]. Weight fell 11.1% on the 17.2 mg dose against 2.1% on placebo, a difference of 9.0 percentage points[2].
That trial used an investigational formulation. The label presents its results as the equivalent dosages of the marketed tablet, and states as much[2]. The published report names the investigational doses instead: 6, 12 and 36 mg[4].
Oral semaglutide at 25 mg was tested in a separate 71-week trial[5]. It randomized 205 people to the tablet and 102 to placebo[5].
Weight fell 13.6% against 2.2% at week 64[5]. That is a difference of 11.4 percentage points, with a 95% confidence interval of 13.9 to 9.0[5]. Gastrointestinal side effects hit 74.0% against 42.2%[5]. Novo Nordisk funded it[5].
The Medicare route is identical for both
Eligible Part D enrollees pay $50 a month for either tablet under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge[6]. The demonstration runs from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027[6].
It covers weight management only[6]. An enrollee with type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea or fatty liver disease goes through the plan instead[6].
Which bill to actually compare
Start at the dose a prescriber expects to reach, not the one on the first bottle. Both ladders rise, and the starting price is paid for a month or two.
Then add the consult and any delivery charge. The all-in monthly calculator does that arithmetic, and Foundayo vs Zepbound puts the tablet against the injection.