Orforglipron
FoundayoPubChem CID 137319706 · 3D model
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A small-molecule pill, not an injection, that switches on the same brain receptor as the body's natural appetite hormone, GLP-1, reducing hunger and slowing digestion to drive steady weight loss.
How it works
Orforglipron locks onto the same receptor in the brain that the body's own appetite hormone, GLP-1, normally switches on — but unlike older GLP-1 medicines, which are injected proteins, orforglipron is a small molecule taken as a pill. Turning on that receptor tells the brain the body is full, so appetite and food intake drop, while food also leaves the stomach more slowly right after each dose. Together, those effects add up to steady weight loss over time. Being a small molecule rather than an injected protein is also why it does not need a syringe — it is just a tablet, taken once a day.
What it’s used for
Foundayo is approved, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, to help adults with obesity — or with excess weight plus a weight-related health condition — lose weight and keep it off long-term. It should not be combined with another GLP-1 medicine.
- Mechanism
- GLP-1 receptor agonist (non-peptide, oral)
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Metabolic / Weight Management