Low-cost & Needle-free: Found Adds Oral Weight Loss Tablets
Weight loss tablets are already gaining traction in 2025 for their affordability and micro-dosing capabilities, but an FDA-approved and entirely drug-free solution is on the horizon that could be a game changer
Found, a weight management telehealth platform has introduced compounded oral semaglutide dissolving tablets, providing patients with a needle-free and non-refrigerated option.
“Weight care is at a critical inflection point with unprecedented consumer demand, but limited options for personalized treatment that fit individual lifestyles,” Found chief medical officer Rekha Kumar, MD, MS and former Medical Director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine said. “While injectable GLP-1s have revolutionized obesity medicine, significant barriers still exist for many patients.”
Dr. Kumar noted that introducing oral dissolving tablets offers a valuable alternative for those afraid of needles while also addressing cost barriers. A four-week supply of the new medication is priced at $189. The platform also provides other medication options for Found patients, who receive personalized care and physician oversight from professionals trained in obesity medicine.
What’s Ahead
The oral weight loss medication space could be significant this year. Last month, telehealth platform Noom said it was rolling out several medications, including swallowable treatments with a low-cost entry price of $29, that are suitable for those who despise needles, have a lower BMI than needed to qualify for GLP-1s or are transitioning off of weight loss medications.
One of the first oral medications that Noom introduced includes Metformin, a drug traditionally used to manage type 2 diabetes but can also support weight loss. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication has been heralded as a “wonder drug” for its versatility and lifespan-extending potential; telemedicine platform AgelessRx offers it as a weight loss and longevity solution.
Oral weight loss medications can also make it easier to microdose GLP-1s. As the name suggests, microdosing means taking lower prescribed quantities, which some leading longevity experts say can be impactful beyond shedding pounds.
Dr. Frank Lipman, a functional medicine expert and the face of longevity clinic Eleven Eleven Wellness, says microdosing weight loss drugs can help glucose and insulin levels but also improve lipid numbers, decrease inflammation and boost the immune system to prevent neurological issues. He told Athletech News that he’s been experimenting with microdoses of GLP-1s himself.
“If I had to make one prediction, it would be that those are going to become the hot anti-aging drugs,” Dr. Lipman said.
The Epitome of Innovation?
Another innovation to watch in the conversation about weight loss injections and oral medications is Epitomee, which has created an ingestible capsule cleared by the FDA and offers an entirely drug-free alternative for those with a BMI starting at 25.
The device is housed in a standard-sized capsule. Once ingested, it absorbs water in the stomach and creates a three-dimensional matrix that occupies volume, resulting in a feeling of fullness. Shares of the biotech company surged following FDA approval, indicating that despite the power of blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, investors are also bullish on drug-free alternatives.