A new experimental pill from the makers of Mounjaro is showing promise in helping people shed weight and manage high blood sugar, according to recent trial results.
Early data suggest patients could lose nearly 10 per cent of their body weight over just under 18 months while also seeing meaningful reductions in HbA1c, a key marker for diabetes control.
How Orforglipron Works
The drug, called orforglipron, is a once-a-day oral pill that belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 agonists, similar to Mounjaro and Wegovy.
These drugs work by suppressing appetite, helping users feel fuller for longer, and now offer a needle-free alternative to injections that many patients find daunting.
The pill is also more convenient: it can be stored at room temperature, taken at any time of day, and does not need to be paired with meals.
While the manufacturer, Lilly, has not released pricing yet, experts suggest it could be a cheaper and more accessible option than injectable treatments.
The Trial That Turned Heads
The late-stage, phase three trial spanned 72 weeks and involved over 1,400 participants across ten countries.
Most participants were overweight or obese, averaging around 16 stone (101.4kg) in weight, with a BMI of 35.6 and elevated blood sugar levels (8.05 per cent HbA1c on average).
Patients were split into groups: 329 received 6mg of orforglipron, 332 were given 12mg, and 322 took 36mg.
The remaining 630 received a placebo. All participants followed standard healthy eating and exercise guidance.
Significant Weight and Sugar Reductions
The results were striking. Participants on the highest 36mg dose of orforglipron lost an average of 9.6 per cent of their weight, compared to just 2.5 per cent in the placebo group.
Lower doses also showed meaningful effects, with 12mg and 6mg doses producing 7 per cent and 5.1 per cent weight loss, respectively.
Blood sugar improvements were also notable.
HbA1c dropped by 1.7 per cent for the 36mg group, while reductions were 1.5 per cent and 1.2 per cent for the 12mg and 6mg groups, compared with only 0.5 per cent for the placebo group.
Waist circumference also improved, with the highest-dose group losing 8.3cm on average.
Side Effects and Safety
Most side effects were mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.
Researchers emphasized that while the pill’s weight loss impact was slightly lower than that seen with injectable GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro or Wegovy, it offers an attractive oral option for patients reluctant to self-inject.
Expert Take on the Oral Option
Writing in The Lancet, the trial authors highlighted the “greater HbA1c reductions observed with orforglipron” compared to other GLP-1 agonists.
Experts note that a non-injectable alternative that delivers meaningful weight loss and blood sugar control is “very good news” and could expand access for millions of patients.
What’s Next for Orforglipron
Lilly plans to apply for regulatory approval for weight management later in 2025, with applications for type 2 diabetes following next year.
If approved, it could become available through the NHS by next year.
Currently, around 2.5 million Britons are on weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Doctors continue to call GLP-1 treatments “game changers” in the fight against obesity, a condition that affects two-thirds of the UK population and costs the economy an estimated £100 billion per year in healthcare and lost productivity.
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