Which GLP-1 pills are FDA-approved for weight loss?
As of October 16, 2026, Wegovy® tablets and Foundayo™ are FDA-approved for adult weight management with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity: adults with obesity, or adults with overweight and at least one weight-related condition. Novo Nordisk announced FDA approval of Wegovy® tablets on December 22, 2025; FDA announced Foundayo™ (orforglipron) approval on April 1, 2026. The Wegovy® label is revised June 2026; the Foundayo™ label is revised July 2026. These are brand-label facts, not claims about compounded medication. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products.
How is Wegovy® (semaglutide) tablets dosed?
The Novo Nordisk Wegovy® label, revised June 2026 and verified October 16, 2026, gives the tablet schedule below. Take once daily in the morning on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of plain water; do not use other liquids. Wait at least 30 minutes before food, beverages or other oral medications. If a dose is missed, skip it and take the next dose the following day. This table describes FDA-approved Wegovy® tablets only; your prescriber directs your treatment.
| Days on Wegovy® tablets | Dose | Label step |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–30 | 1.5 mg once daily | Starting dosage |
| Days 31–60 | 4 mg once daily | Escalation |
| Days 61–90 | 9 mg once daily | Escalation |
| Day 91 onward | 25 mg once daily | Maintenance |
How is Foundayo™ (orforglipron) dosed?
The Eli Lilly Foundayo™ label, revised July 2026 and verified October 16, 2026, starts at 0.8 mg once daily. After at least 30 days, the label increases the dose to 2.5 mg once daily, then to 5.5 mg once daily after at least 30 days on 2.5 mg. Further increases to 9 mg, 14.5 mg or 17.2 mg once daily are optional, each after at least 30 days on the current dose, based on treatment response and tolerability. Take with or without food, swallow whole, and do not break, crush or chew tablets or take more than one tablet per day. The maximum is 17.2 mg once daily; with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor the label limits the maximum to 9 mg once daily. The label advises people using oral contraceptives to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 30 days after initiation and after each dose escalation. Your prescriber reviews interactions and sets your regimen.
| Foundayo™ label step | Dose |
|---|---|
| Starting dosage | 0.8 mg once daily |
| After at least 30 days on 0.8 mg | 2.5 mg once daily |
| After at least 30 days on 2.5 mg | 5.5 mg once daily |
| Optional next step after at least 30 days on 5.5 mg | 9 mg once daily |
| Optional next step after at least 30 days on 9 mg | 14.5 mg once daily |
| Optional next step after at least 30 days on 14.5 mg | 17.2 mg once daily (maximum) |
Wegovy® tablets vs Foundayo™: how do they differ?
As verified October 16, 2026, this table compares FDA-approved brand-label facts from Wegovy® (June 2026), Foundayo™ (July 2026), and their dated approval announcements. It makes no efficacy comparison. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products.
| Label fact | Wegovy® tablets | Foundayo™ |
|---|---|---|
| Molecule | Semaglutide | Orforglipron |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| FDA approval of tablets | December 22, 2025 (Novo announcement) | April 1, 2026 (FDA announcement) |
| Indication | Adult weight reduction and long-term maintenance; also major cardiovascular event risk reduction in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight | Adult weight reduction and long-term maintenance; the current label lists one indication |
| Frequency | Once daily | Once daily |
| Food and water | Morning empty stomach; ≤4 oz plain water; wait ≥30 minutes before food, drinks or oral medication | With or without food; swallow whole |
| Tablet strengths | 1.5, 4, 9, 25 mg | 0.8, 2.5, 5.5, 9, 14.5, 17.2 mg |
| Boxed warning | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors |
What do GLP-1 pills cost without insurance?
As of October 16, 2026, NovoCare lists Wegovy® tablets at $149 for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg, and $299 for 9 mg or 25 mg per bottle of 30 tablets. Patients must be uninsured or choose to pay outside commercial or government-funded insurance; a valid prescription and NovoCare eligibility terms apply. NovoCare says pricing will be updated after December 31, 2026.
As of October 16, 2026, LillyDirect lists a 30-day Foundayo™ supply at regular prices of $149 (0.8 mg), $199 (2.5 mg), $299 (5.5 mg or 9 mg), and $349 (14.5 mg or 17.2 mg). Through December 31, 2026, the 2.5 mg price is temporarily $149 and the 5.5 mg price is $199. The 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg doses are $299 per month when refilled within 45 days; otherwise $349. The self-pay card expires and savings end December 31, 2026. A valid prescription and program terms apply (LillyDirect terms modified September 15, 2026).
As of October 16, 2026, TrumpRx.gov lists manufacturer offers and routes patients to LillyDirect or Novo pharmacy coupons. You cannot buy drugs directly from TrumpRx. It is not insurance, does not cover compounded drugs, and cash/TrumpRx purchases do not count toward a Medicare deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. Confirm the product, dose, refill deadline and eligibility with the manufacturer; no separate TrumpRx price is quoted here.
Novo Nordisk’s February 24, 2026 announcement sets the list price (wholesale acquisition cost) of Wegovy® 2.4 mg injection and 25 mg tablets at $675 effective January 1, 2027. As verified October 16, 2026, Novo says self-pay prices are not affected. List price is not a patient self-pay quote; 2027 self-pay prices have not been published. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products.
Does Medicare cover GLP-1 pills?
As of October 16, 2026, CMS describes the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge as a short-term demonstration running July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, outside the regular Part D benefit and payment flow. Humana processes claims for CMS. For weight management with lifestyle modification, it covers all formulations of Foundayo™, Wegovy® injection (including Wegovy HD) and tablets, and Zepbound® KwikPen® only. Zepbound single-dose vials and single-dose pens are not covered. The Bridge does not cover compounded drugs.
As of October 16, 2026, Medicare.gov lists a $50 copayment for a one-month supply (28 or 30 days, depending on the drug), at any income. No Part D deductible applies, and the payment does not count toward the Part D out-of-pocket cap. Extra Help/low-income subsidies and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan do not apply. Coupons and discount programs cannot be applied to Bridge claims. Pen needles are not covered.
As of October 16, 2026, CMS requires enrollment in an eligible Part D plan: a standalone prescription drug plan (PDP), or a Medicare Advantage drug plan that is an HMO, HMOPOS, or local or regional PPO; Special Needs Plans (SNPs), employer group waiver plans (EGWPs) and LI NET are eligible. Private fee-for-service plans, section 1876 cost-contract plans, section 1833 health care prepayment plans, PACE, fallback plans and religious fraternal benefit plans are excluded unless the person also has a standalone PDP.
As of October 16, 2026, CMS requires age 18 or older and one of these criteria when GLP-1 therapy was initiated, including therapy started before Part D enrollment or July 1, 2026: BMI at least 35; BMI at least 30 with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, uncontrolled hypertension, or chronic kidney disease stage 3a or above; or BMI at least 27 with prediabetes, a previous heart attack, a previous stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. The prescription must be for weight management with lifestyle modification.
As of October 16, 2026, CMS excludes people with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, or noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH); ask your Part D plan about coverage for those conditions. Anyone who received a GLP-1 through Part D in calendar 2026 is ineligible for the Bridge in 2026. CMS has not yet set the relevant lookback period for 2027.
As of October 16, 2026, the process starts with the prescriber sending a prescription to the pharmacy. The pharmacy claim establishes program eligibility; the pharmacy then requests prior authorization from the prescriber (allow 24–72 hours). The prescriber should wait for that request before submitting the authorization. A decision follows within 72 hours and a letter is mailed. Approval covers refills and dose changes through December 31, 2027 unless the GLP-1 drug changes. There is no Bridge appeals process; resubmission is allowed.
As of October 16, 2026, CMS identifies $245 per monthly supply as the manufacturer net price to the Bridge, not the patient copayment. The separate IRA Medicare Drug Price Negotiation fact sheet lists a $274 negotiated 30-day price for semaglutide products (Ozempic®/Rybelsus®/Wegovy®), effective January 1, 2027. That is a different program and is not a patient quote or a promise of Part D coverage for weight loss.
The covered pills are Wegovy® tablets and Foundayo™. If your commercial or Part D coverage changed, check your plan's appeal options, manufacturer self-pay terms and Bridge eligibility; the Bridge itself has no appeals process (resubmission only). See the coverage-changed guide and Bridge sources. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products.
Daily pill or weekly injection?
As verified October 16, 2026, the Wegovy® June 2026 label and Foundayo™ July 2026 label describe daily tablets. Wegovy® tablets have the morning empty-stomach, plain-water and 30-minute waiting rules; Foundayo™ can be taken with or without food. FDA-approved brand injections also exist: Wegovy® injection is weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of day with or without meals; Lilly’s Zepbound® instructions specify once weekly at any time of day. Frequency and administration rules do not establish comparative outcomes. Your licensed provider decides which medication and formulation is appropriate for your history. Cora Health’s plans use compounded injections, not these brand tablets. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products. Brand-name and compounded doses are not interchangeable, and there is no dose conversion between them; your provider determines the right dose based on your history.
Is Rybelsus® a weight-loss pill?
No. As verified October 16, 2026, the Novo Nordisk label revised January 2026 co-labels Rybelsus® and Ozempic® tablets for adults with type 2 diabetes: glycemic control alongside diet and exercise, and reduction of major cardiovascular event risk in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk for those events. This is not a weight-management indication.
Does Cora Health offer a GLP-1 pill?
No. As of October 16, 2026, the Cora Health Essential Plan and Premium Plan use compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide injections prescribed by licensed providers, not pills. Cora does not offer a compounded oral GLP-1 product. The brand pill labels and Medicare Bridge terms above do not describe the compounded injections prescribed through Cora Health; the Bridge and manufacturer programs do not cover compounded medications. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products. Brand-name and compounded doses are not interchangeable, and there is no dose conversion between them; your provider determines the right dose based on your history.
As of October 16, 2026, the Essential Plan for compounded semaglutide injections prescribed through Cora Health is $99/month ($1,188 billed upfront every 12 months); $120/month ($720 billed upfront every 6 months); $145/month ($435 billed upfront every 3 months); $175/month ($175 billed monthly). Plans renew automatically until you cancel. Prices may change. Includes licensed-provider consultation, medication, pharmacy fulfillment, expedited shipping and ongoing monitoring. A licensed provider decides eligibility. Cancellation and refund policy. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products.
As of October 16, 2026, the Premium Plan for compounded tirzepatide injections prescribed through Cora Health is $135/month ($1,620 billed upfront every 12 months); $175/month ($1,050 billed upfront every 6 months); $199/month ($597 billed upfront every 3 months); $225/month ($225 billed monthly). Plans renew automatically until you cancel. Prices may change. Includes licensed-provider consultation, medication, pharmacy fulfillment, expedited shipping and ongoing monitoring. A licensed provider decides eligibility. Cancellation and refund policy. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products.
Who prescribes compounded GLP-1 medication through Cora Health?
As of October 16, 2026, Cora Health does not prescribe medication. Cora Health connects patients with licensed providers at Wasef Health, PC, who evaluate each patient and prescribe compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide only when clinically appropriate. The prescribing provider reviews the patient’s history, decides eligibility and sets the patient’s dose. A consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Compounded medication prescribed through Cora Health is prepared under patient-specific prescriptions by US-licensed 503A compounding pharmacies, including Hallandale Pharmacy (PCAB-accredited) and VialsRx. Cora Health does not compound medication. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products. The prescribing provider and dispensing pharmacy answer questions about the prescription and pharmacy label.
Sources
All label and program facts above were verified October 16, 2026, using the dated primary sources below. Prices and program terms may change; confirm with the manufacturer, CMS or your plan before deciding. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice. Brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. Cora Health is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Compounded medications are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved products. Foundayo™ is a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company; Wegovy® and Rybelsus® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S.
- Novo Nordisk — Wegovy® tablet approval (December 22, 2025): novonordisk.com
- Novo Nordisk — Wegovy® prescribing information (June 2026): novo-pi.com
- FDA — Foundayo™ approval (April 1, 2026): fda.gov
- Eli Lilly — Foundayo™ prescribing information (July 2026): uspl.lilly.com
- Novo Nordisk — Rybelsus®/Ozempic® tablets prescribing information (January 2026): novo-pi.com
- Eli Lilly — weekly Zepbound® instructions (February 25, 2026): lilly.com
- CMS — Bridge overview (July 13, 2026; verified October 16, 2026): cms.gov
- CMS — Bridge information for Part D plans (August 6, 2026; verified October 16, 2026): cms.gov
- CMS — Bridge information for providers (August 6, 2026; verified October 16, 2026): cms.gov
- Medicare.gov — weight-loss drugs (verified October 16, 2026): medicare.gov
- Medicare — GLP-1 Bridge fact sheet 12234 (June 2026; verified October 16, 2026): medicare.gov
- CMS — separate IRA negotiated prices effective January 1, 2027: cms.gov
- LillyDirect — Foundayo self-pay terms (September 15, 2026; verified October 16, 2026): lilly.com
- LillyDirect — Foundayo (September 2026; verified October 16, 2026): lilly.com
- NovoCare — Wegovy tablet pricing (verified October 16, 2026): novocare.com
- NovoCare — Wegovy eligibility and terms (verified October 16, 2026): novocare.com
- NovoCare — Wegovy savings offer (verified October 16, 2026): novocare.com
- TrumpRx — manufacturer listings (verified October 16, 2026): trumprx.gov
- Novo Nordisk — January 2027 list-price announcement (February 24, 2026; verified October 16, 2026): prnewswire.com
Cora Health Content Team
Written by the Cora Health content team. This article covers business, pricing, or comparison information and was not medically reviewed; for clinical guidance, see articles labeled "Medically Reviewed."
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Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new medication or treatment. Cora Health does not prescribe medication; licensed providers at Wasef Health, PC review every patient assessment and prescribe only when clinically appropriate.
Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, Zepbound® and other brand names are registered trademarks of their respective owners; Cora Health is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.
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