Wegovy pill and Foundayo both hit record weekly prescriptions

Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill and Eli Lilly's Foundayo, the two oral GLP-1 drugs approved for weight loss, both posted their highest weekly prescription totals to date, according to IQVIA data cited by Citi analysts ^[1]. The Wegovy pill reached about 183,000 total scripts for the most recent reporting period, up from 181,000 the week before, while Foundayo climbed nearly 8% to reach about 47,500 scripts ^[1].

The gap between the two drugs is narrowing but remains large. Foundayo launched in roughly January 2026, and it took about 20 weeks for the drug to first top 40,000 weekly scripts, a level the Wegovy pill had already far exceeded early in its own launch ^[1]. Citi analysts flagged that IQVIA data may still be missing some Foundayo prescriptions filled through telehealth channels, meaning the drug's actual reach could be somewhat higher than reported ^[1].

Looking at the broader GLP-1 market, total prescriptions across obesity and diabetes uses rose 5.4% over the last four weeks, a sharp reversal from a 6.8% decline over the same period a year earlier ^[1]. Citi analysts attributed that 12-percentage-point swing largely to the growth of oral GLP-1 options, which appear to be widening access to the drug class and bringing in new patients who may have been reluctant to use injections ^[1].

Market share between the two companies has shifted modestly. Eli Lilly's tirzepatide products now hold close to 57% of the total GLP-1 market, up from about 49.5% a year earlier, while Novo Nordisk's semaglutide share has held roughly steady at 37% ^[1]. Within the oral segment specifically, an Aug. 28 Jefferies note found Foundayo's share of new prescriptions, which exclude refills, at 21.5% of the oral obesity market ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

The steady climb in prescriptions for both oral drugs suggests more patients are choosing pill forms of GLP-1 medications over injections, which could matter for people who dislike needles or want a treatment that fits more easily into daily routines. Foundayo's marketing has emphasized that it does not require the strict fasting and water rules that come with the Wegovy pill ^[1].

The pace of Foundayo's growth may also reflect insurance access. Jefferies noted that CVS, one of the three major pharmacy benefit managers, did not begin covering Foundayo until June 1, 2026, while Wegovy had full coverage from its first week on the market ^[1]. Lilly also began broad direct-to-consumer marketing for Foundayo only after securing commercial access across the three major PBMs in June ^[1]. For patients, this means insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs for these oral drugs can vary depending on when and where a prescription is filled, and coverage gaps in earlier months may have slowed some patients' ability to start or stay on Foundayo.

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which went live July 1, 2026, offers coverage for certain weight-loss medications, including Foundayo, for a $50 monthly copayment ^[1]. This could lower costs for some Medicare beneficiaries, though the sources do not specify how many patients have used the program or how it compares with private insurance coverage for either drug.

What happens next

Fierce Pharma's tracker is updated weekly using IQVIA prescription data, so more recent trends will continue to emerge in the coming weeks ^[1]. It is not yet known from these sources whether Foundayo's growth rate will continue to accelerate or whether the Wegovy pill's roughly one-third share of total Wegovy prescriptions, a level analysts have described as a possible ceiling, will change ^[1]. Both companies' full-year 2026 sales figures and any additional insurance coverage decisions will likely shape how the two oral drugs' market positions evolve.