A daily pill for weight loss has been shown to help people reduce their body weight by as much as a fifth, according to a trial that could make weight loss treatment more accessible. The drug, orforglipron, is manufactured by Eli Lilly and targets the same GLP-1 receptors as popular injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy.
In a study of 3,127 adults with obesity but without diabetes, one in five participants who took the once-a-day tablet for 72 weeks lost 20% or more of their body weight. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that those on the highest dose (36mg) lost an average of 11.2% of their body weight, while those on the lowest dose (6mg) lost 7.5%.
Experts believe the pill form will be more accessible and convenient than injections, as it is easier to store, distribute and administer, and is expected to be cheaper. However, orforglipron is not yet approved by regulators in the US or elsewhere. Eli Lilly has said it expects substantial demand when the pill is launched.
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal and described as mild to moderate. Researchers also noted improvements in blood pressure, waist circumference and cholesterol levels among those taking the drug. Dr Sean Wharton of McMaster University in Canada, who led the study, said the pill could expand obesity interventions to groups currently excluded due to the cost and lack of access to injectable medications.
