ELI LILLY GLP-1 GUIDE — ALL 4 DRUGS EXPLAINED

What GLP-1 Does Lilly Make? All 4 Eli Lilly GLP-1 Drugs, Explained

Published: June 17, 2026 · Last reviewed: June 17, 2026

If you're trying to figure out what GLP-1 does Lilly make, here's the short answer: Eli Lilly makes four FDA-approved GLP-1 medicines — Zepbound, Mounjaro, Trulicity, and Foundayo — plus one more, retatrutide, that's still in testing and not yet for sale. Two of the four are for weight loss. Two are for type 2 diabetes. One is the brand-new daily pill.

And here's the part that trips up almost everyone: Ozempic and Wegovy are not Lilly drugs. They belong to a different company. Mix that up at your doctor's office and you can send the whole visit sideways.

Below we lay out each Lilly GLP-1 — what it treats, pill or shot, and what it actually costs in 2026 — plus the one detail several other pages currently get wrong about Lilly's new pill.

By The RX Index Editorial Team · Last verified: June 17, 2026 · Educational guide, not medical advice. Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you start care through some links on this page.

What GLP-1 does Lilly make? The full Lilly lineup

Eli Lilly makes four FDA-approved GLP-1 medications: Zepbound (tirzepatide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and Foundayo (orforglipron). Trulicity and Foundayo are GLP-1 receptor agonists. Zepbound and Mounjaro (both tirzepatide) work on the GLP-1 receptor and a second hormone called GIP. Zepbound and Foundayo are for weight loss; Mounjaro and Trulicity are for type 2 diabetes. A fifth drug, retatrutide, is still in clinical trials and is not approved or for sale.

Here's the full picture in one table — Lilly's drugs, what they do, and one detail that matters more than people realize: not all of them are "pure" GLP-1 drugs.

The Lilly GLP-1 lineup (verified June 17, 2026)

Source: Eli Lilly product/prescribing information and FDA approval records. Tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro) was first approved in 2022; the dates above are when each brand was cleared for its specific use.

Wait — is "GLP-1" even the right word for all of these?

Short version: kind of. People use "GLP-1" as a catch-all for this whole family of weight and diabetes drugs. That's fine in everyday talk. But if you want to be precise — and being precise can matter for how a drug works — there are three types here.

• GLP-1 is a gut hormone (glucagon-like peptide-1). It tells your brain you're full and helps control blood sugar. A drug that copies just this one hormone is a "pure" GLP-1 drug.
• GIP is a second gut hormone. Some drugs copy both GLP-1 and GIP. Those are called dual drugs.
• Glucagon is a third hormone. A drug that hits all three is a triple drug.

So for Lilly:

• Trulicity and Foundayo are pure GLP-1 drugs.
• Mounjaro and Zepbound are dual drugs (tirzepatide hits GIP and GLP-1). They're the same active drug — just sold under two names for two different jobs.
• Retatrutide (still in trials) is a triple drug.

Why bring this up? A lot of pages call tirzepatide a "GLP-1" and stop there. It does work on the GLP-1 receptor — but it also works on GIP, and that second action is a real part of how it performs. When you're deciding what to ask your doctor about, it helps to know you're not comparing four identical things. You're comparing a pure GLP-1 pill, a pure GLP-1 shot, and a dual-action shot sold two ways.

Does Lilly make Ozempic or Wegovy?

No. Lilly does not make Ozempic or Wegovy. Both are made by Novo Nordisk, a different company, and both contain a drug called semaglutide. Lilly's competing products are Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) and the new pill Foundayo (orforglipron).

This is the single most common mix-up we see. Lilly and Novo Nordisk are the two giants in this space. They both sell a diabetes GLP-1 and a weight-loss GLP-1, the names all sound similar, and they get talked about together constantly online and at the pharmacy counter. Here's a simple "who makes what" decoder.

The GLP-1 brand decoder: who makes it?

Comparing the two companies head-to-head? See our guides on Mounjaro vs. Ozempic and Foundayo vs. Zepbound.

One quick gut-check: the cheap "tirzepatide" or "semaglutide" you see advertised online for $99–$300 is usually not a Lilly or Novo product at all. Those are compounded versions made by other pharmacies. We cover what that means — and the safety catches — further down.

Which Lilly GLP-1 is for weight loss?

Lilly makes two weight-loss GLP-1 medications: Zepbound (a weekly shot) and Foundayo (a daily pill). Both are FDA-approved for adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight and have a weight-related health problem. The big difference is the form — a needle once a week, or a pill once a day.

Zepbound — the Lilly weight-loss shot

Zepbound is Lilly's tirzepatide shot for weight loss. You take it once a week, with a smaller-calorie diet and more activity. It's also FDA-approved to treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity — the first drug of its kind cleared for that.

In plain terms: Zepbound is the heavy hitter. In studies, tirzepatide has produced some of the largest average weight loss of any approved medicine. It's a shot, though, and that stops some people cold.

Foundayo — the Lilly weight-loss pill (new in 2026)

Foundayo (orforglipron) is Lilly's GLP-1 pill for weight loss. The FDA approved it on April 1, 2026. You take it once a day, by mouth, and — unlike the older diabetes pill Rybelsus — there are no food or water timing rules. You don't have to take it on an empty stomach or wait to eat.

For the full breakdown of doses, prices, and how to get it, see our Foundayo cost guide and our Foundayo availability guide.

Zepbound vs. Foundayo: the side-by-side

The honest catch (and who should ignore it)

Lilly's pill and Lilly's shot are not the same medicine, and in trials the shot averaged more weight loss than the pill. In Lilly's studies, Zepbound at its highest dose helped people lose around 21% of their body weight on average, while Foundayo at its top dose landed near 12%. Foundayo is a real, FDA-approved drug with strong results for an oral option — but if your single goal is the biggest number on the scale, the injection has the stronger track record.

But if needles are the exact reason you've been putting this off for a year, a once-a-day pill you'll actually take beats a stronger shot sitting unused in the fridge. The best medicine is the one you'll keep taking.

What is Lilly's GLP-1 pill called?

Lilly's GLP-1 pill is Foundayo (orforglipron). It's a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, FDA-approved on April 1, 2026 for weight loss in adults with obesity, or some adults who are overweight and have a weight-related health condition. It is not Mounjaro, not Zepbound, and not a compounded product — it's its own FDA-approved medicine.

If you specifically heard "Lilly has a GLP-1 pill now," Foundayo is what you're thinking of. It's the first GLP-1 pill of its kind that works without any food or water timing rules. For the full breakdown of doses, prices, and how to get it, see our Foundayo cost guide and availability guide.

Is Zepbound the same as Mounjaro?

Zepbound and Mounjaro are the same active drug — tirzepatide — but they are different brands with different approved uses. Zepbound is approved for weight loss (and sleep apnea with obesity). Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. Same medicine inside; different name, different job.

Lilly took one drug, tirzepatide, and gave it two brand names so each could be approved and prescribed for a specific purpose. Think of it like one engine in two different cars. Why does the name matter if the drug is the same? Three real-world reasons:

• Your prescription is written by brand and reason. A doctor prescribes "Zepbound for weight loss" or "Mounjaro for diabetes." The label has to match the medical reason.
• Insurance treats them differently. A plan may cover Mounjaro for diabetes but not Zepbound for weight loss — even though it's the same molecule. This is one of the biggest reasons coverage gets denied.
• You can't just swap one for the other. Don't assume your diabetes Mounjaro and a friend's weight-loss Zepbound are interchangeable. Let a licensed clinician decide what's right and how to dose it.

Simple rule: Ask about Zepbound if your goal is weight. Ask about Mounjaro in a type 2 diabetes visit. Let your clinician make the call.

Which Lilly GLP-1 is for type 2 diabetes?

Lilly makes two GLP-1 medications for type 2 diabetes: Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide). Both are once-a-week shots used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar. Trulicity is also approved to reduce the risk of major heart problems in certain adults with type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro — Lilly's newer diabetes drug

Mounjaro is the diabetes side of tirzepatide. It's approved for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. Because it's a dual drug (GIP + GLP-1), it tends to be very effective at lowering blood sugar, and many people lose weight on it too. But remember: Mounjaro is the diabetes brand. Zepbound is the weight-loss brand. Same drug, different label.

Trulicity — the older, GLP-1-only option

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is Lilly's original weekly GLP-1 shot, approved back in 2014. It's a pure GLP-1 drug for type 2 diabetes, and it's also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and similar events in certain adults with diabetes and heart risk.

Two honest things to know about Trulicity in 2026:

• Lilly says plainly that Trulicity is not a weight-loss drug. It's a diabetes medicine. If weight loss is your goal, look at Zepbound or Foundayo.
• Supply has been rocky for years, and it's still mixed. Trulicity has been on the FDA's drug shortage list since August 2022 and is still listed in 2026. Lilly now reports all doses as available, but the FDA hasn't formally declared the shortage over, and the higher doses (3 mg and 4.5 mg) have been the hardest to find.

If you're weighing diabetes options, our guide to the best GLP-1 for type 2 diabetes can help you prep for a conversation with your own clinician.

How much do Lilly's GLP-1 medications cost in 2026?

What you actually pay depends on the drug, your insurance, and how you buy it — not just the sticker price. Without insurance, Lilly's self-pay weight-loss options start at $149/month for the Foundayo pill and $299/month for the starter Zepbound vial. The diabetes shots carry much higher list prices (over $1,000/month), but most people with coverage pay far less.

Lilly GLP-1 prices at a glance (verified June 17, 2026)

Prices from Lilly's official pages. They change often — re-check before you buy.

A few details that save people money

• Zepbound's cheapest route is the single-dose vials through Lilly's direct pharmacy, not the pre-filled pens. The pens' list price is around $1,086/month; the vials start at $299. To keep the $449 price on higher doses, you have to refill within 45 days — miss that window and the price jumps.
• Foundayo's price climbs as your dose climbs. Most people start at $149/month, then step up to $199 and eventually $299 as the dose increases. The two highest doses are $349/month, but drop to $299 if you refill within 45 days. Budget for the maintenance price, not just the $149 starter.
• With covered commercial insurance, Lilly's savings cards can bring Zepbound, Foundayo, or Mounjaro down to as low as $25/month. This only works if your plan covers the drug — it's not a discount for uninsured folks.
• Medicare is its own world. Under current law, Medicare Part D generally can't cover GLP-1s prescribed only for weight loss. (Exception: if Zepbound is prescribed for sleep apnea, coverage may apply.) For Foundayo, eligible Medicare Part D members may be able to pay $50/month beginning July 1, 2026 through a new GLP-1 Bridge program — check your own eligibility.

The takeaway: don't let a $1,000 list price scare you off before you've checked coverage. Coverage and savings cards change the real number more than anything else.

Who should not take a Lilly GLP-1?

These are prescription medicines, and they aren't right for everyone. Lilly's GLP-1 medicines carry serious safety warnings, including a boxed warning about a possible risk of thyroid tumors seen in animal studies. People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), are generally told not to take them.

A few things worth knowing before you talk to a clinician:

• Thyroid history matters. The injectable Lilly GLP-1s — Zepbound, Mounjaro, and Trulicity — should not be used by people who have had MTC, have a family history of it, or have MEN2. Foundayo's label carries the same class warning.
• Don't double up. None of these should be used together with another GLP-1 medicine. Foundayo, specifically, should not be combined with other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
• Foundayo and birth control pills. Foundayo can affect how well birth control pills work. Lilly advises a backup or different form of birth control for 30 days after starting Foundayo and after each dose increase.
• Tell your clinician about your full history — including pregnancy or plans to become pregnant, pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney issues, and any other medicines you take, especially other diabetes drugs.

None of this should scare you off if you're a good candidate. It's simply why these are prescription medicines and not something to buy from a random website. The point of this page is to help you walk in knowing the right Lilly name — your clinician decides if it's safe for you.

What about retatrutide — is it a Lilly GLP-1 you can buy?

Retatrutide is a Lilly drug still in clinical trials, not an approved medicine you can buy. It's a "triple" drug — it works on three hormones (GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon) — and in studies it's produced the largest weight loss yet seen for a medication. But it is not FDA-approved, and right now the only legal way to get it is by joining a Lilly clinical trial.

In Lilly's 2026 TRIUMPH-1 Phase 3 trial, people on the 12 mg dose lost an average of 70.3 pounds — about 28.3% of their body weight — over 80 weeks. Those are numbers that get into bariatric-surgery territory. That's why you keep hearing about it.

But "amazing in trials" is not the same as "available." Lilly has said it's aiming to file retatrutide with the FDA later in 2026, and outside analysts expect a possible approval around 2027 and a launch around 2028 — and even that timeline isn't guaranteed.

Is compounded tirzepatide or semaglutide made by Lilly?

No. Compounded GLP-1 drugs are not made by Lilly, and they are not FDA-approved. Compounding is when a pharmacy mixes its own version of a drug. The FDA does not review those compounded products for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they're sold — and compounded drugs are not the same as approved generics.

A few facts to keep you safe:

• Compounded ≠ Lilly, and compounded ≠ generic. Lilly makes Zepbound and Mounjaro. A compounding pharmacy's "tirzepatide" is a separate, unapproved product.
• The shortages that allowed mass compounding are over. The FDA determined the tirzepatide shortage was resolved on December 19, 2024, and the semaglutide shortage on February 21, 2025. The special window that let pharmacies churn out copies has closed.
• The FDA is actively cracking down. On March 2, 2026, the agency sent 30 warning letters to telehealth companies for false or misleading claims about compounded GLP-1s. And on April 30, 2026, the FDA proposed removing semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from a key bulk-compounding list.

Red flags to watch for (several flagged by the FDA)

To be crystal clear: we don't claim any compounded product is the same as, or as proven as, an FDA-approved Lilly drug. Compounded products are not FDA-approved finished medicines and are not made by Lilly. If you want a Lilly GLP-1, get it through a licensed clinician and a real pharmacy.

How to get a Lilly GLP-1 the right way

Every Lilly GLP-1 needs a prescription from a licensed clinician. From there, you have a few legitimate ways to get it: through your own doctor and a regular pharmacy, through Lilly's direct pharmacy (LillyDirect), or through a licensed telehealth service that prescribes FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1s. Which one fits depends on your insurance, the drug, and your state.

Verified access routes (June 17, 2026)

Route 1 — Your own doctor and pharmacy. Best if you already have a clinician, a diagnosis history, or an insurance relationship. They write the script; your pharmacy fills it. Simple and familiar.

Route 2 — LillyDirect. Lilly's own pharmacy service delivers select FDA-approved Lilly medicines, including all four GLP-1s. It's where those lower self-pay vial and pill prices live, and it offers coverage and savings guidance. You still need a prescription.

Route 3 — Telehealth, if you want help with coverage. If you'd rather do this online and get help with the insurance paperwork, a licensed telehealth service can prescribe and coordinate getting your medicine. Ro is one example: it has partnered with Lilly since 2024, carries Zepbound and Foundayo, and runs that free GLP-1 Insurance Coverage Checker. Its weight program starts at $39 for the first month, then as low as $74/month on an annual plan.

So which Lilly GLP-1 should you ask about?

For a weight-loss shot, ask about Zepbound. For a weight-loss pill, ask about Foundayo. For type 2 diabetes, ask about Mounjaro or Trulicity. And remember — Ozempic and Wegovy aren't Lilly's, and retatrutide isn't something you can buy yet.

What we verified before we published this

We don't treat compounded, investigational, and FDA-approved brand-name drugs as the same thing — because they aren't. Here's what we actually checked for this guide, so you can trust it (and check it yourself).

What we verified (June 17, 2026):

• Lilly's GLP-1 drug names, what each treats, and FDA approval dates — confirmed against Lilly's own product and prescribing information and FDA records.
• That Foundayo is approved for weight loss, not diabetes — and that the diabetes version isn't approved yet (a detail several other pages currently get wrong).
• That tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 drug, not a pure GLP-1 — confirmed against Lilly and the prescribing information.
• Self-pay and savings prices for Zepbound and Foundayo, and that Mounjaro and Trulicity list prices run over $1,000/month — from Lilly's pricing pages.
• Trulicity's current supply status (still listed in shortage in 2026, with mixed availability) — from the FDA shortage database and ASHP.
• The FDA's stated concerns about compounded and unapproved GLP-1s, including its March 2026 warning letters, the resolved-shortage dates, and its position on retatrutide.

What you should re-check before acting: Prices and savings terms (they change often), exact insurance coverage for your plan, and current telehealth offers. Ro's pricing and the drugs it carries should be confirmed on Ro's own page before you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Eli Lilly — Zepbound (tirzepatide) product page. zepbound.lilly.com
2. Eli Lilly — LillyDirect Zepbound self-pay pricing & terms. lilly.com
3. Eli Lilly (investor news) — Lilly lowers price of Zepbound single-dose vials (Dec 1, 2025). investor.lilly.com
4. Eli Lilly (investor news) — FDA approves Foundayo (orforglipron) for weight management (April 1, 2026). investor.lilly.com
5. Eli Lilly — Foundayo coverage & savings (self-pay dose tiers). foundayo.lilly.com
6. Drugs.com — Foundayo (orforglipron) FDA approval history. drugs.com
7. FDA — Foundayo (orforglipron) prescribing information. fda.gov
8. FDA — Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information. fda.gov
9. Eli Lilly — Mounjaro (tirzepatide) cost information. pricinginfo.lilly.com
10. Eli Lilly — Trulicity (dulaglutide) cost information. pricinginfo.lilly.com
11. ASHP — Dulaglutide (Trulicity) shortage detail. ashp.org
12. Eli Lilly — What to know about retatrutide (updated June 2026). lilly.com
13. Eli Lilly (investor news) — Retatrutide TRIUMPH-1 Phase 3 topline results. prnewswire.com
14. FDA — FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss. fda.gov
15. FDA — FDA Warns 30 Telehealth Companies Against Illegal Marketing of Compounded GLP-1s (March 2026). fda.gov
16. FDA — Clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply stabilizes. fda.gov
17. Ro — GLP-1 Insurance Coverage Checker. ro.co