Novo Nordisk Claims Wegovy Pill Outpaces Foundayo by 3.2% Weight Loss with Fewer Side Effects
Novo Nordisk’s ORION study found its Wegovy 25mg oral semaglutide led to 3.2 percentage points greater weight loss and 14x lower odds of gastrointestinal discontinuation than Eli Lilly’s Foundayo. The analysis also showed 4x lower overall adverse event discontinuations and will be presented April 10.
1. ORION Study Outcomes
The ORION indirect treatment comparison adjusted data from separate phase 3 trials to show Wegovy’s 25mg oral semaglutide achieved 3.2 percentage points more weight loss than Foundayo’s 36mg orforglipron. It also reported roughly 14 times lower odds of stopping due to gastrointestinal side effects and four times lower odds of any adverse event discontinuation.
2. Study Limitations
Novo Nordisk noted ORION was not a head-to-head trial and relied on population adjustments for body weight, sex and glycemic status, leaving potential unaccounted factors. Differences in trial designs and the low number of adverse events counted may affect tolerability comparisons.
3. OPTIC Preference Survey
In the OPTIC study of 800 U.S. adults surveyed in late 2025, 84% preferred the hypothetical Wegovy profile over Foundayo’s, though Novo cautioned that these profiles may not exactly match final FDA labeling for either product.
4. Dosing and Market Implications
Foundayo offers flexible dosing without food or timing restrictions, while the Wegovy pill must be taken first thing in the morning with a small sip of water followed by a 30-minute fast. Eli Lilly highlighted Foundayo’s convenience, and Novo’s CEO downplayed any negative impact of Wegovy’s dosing requirements.