A groundbreaking daily pill could provide a more affordable alternative to expensive weight loss injections currently used by millions across the UK, according to new research published in the Lancet.
Promising Results for Oral Treatment
The new medication, called orforglipron, has demonstrated significant weight loss potential in a major international study involving 1,444 obese participants across ten countries. Those taking the highest dose of 36mg lost an average of 9.6% of their body weight over 16 months, while lower doses resulted in 7% and 5.1% weight loss respectively.
Professor Alex Miras, an endocrinology expert at Ulster University, told The Independent: "Its effects in terms of weight loss or diabetes improvements are not as good as tirzepatide but it's a tablet and that may make it more acceptable by patients who prefer not to inject."
Cost and Accessibility Advantages
Currently, approximately 2.5 million people in the UK use GLP-1 agonist injections for weight management, with costs reaching £206 per dose. The new oral treatment could dramatically reduce financial barriers to effective obesity treatment.
Professor Miras added: "As a tablet it is much easier and cheaper to be manufactured and I am hoping that this will be reflected in a favourable price."
The study authors highlighted several practical advantages of the pill format:
- No requirement for cold storage
- No special instructions around food or fasting
- Predicted significantly lower cost
- Greater convenience for patients
Expert Endorsement and Future Availability
Professor Naveed Sattar, an expert in cardiometabolic medicine at Glasgow University, welcomed the development: "Having more safe and effective options for weight loss is a positive step forward. A new oral tablet for weight loss, which can be taken alongside other medications without the need for fasting, could provide a convenient option for people with mild to moderate obesity."
Dr Deborah Horn, senior author of the study and medical director of the Centre for Obesity Medicine at UTHealth Houston, expressed optimism about the drug's potential impact: "Because of the safety profile of orforglipron and the predicted much lower cost, it will open the door for many more individuals who need and deserve treatment for their obesity to get care around the world."
The research found that the most common side effects were mild to moderate gastrointestinal events, while participants also received lifestyle advice about healthy eating and exercise throughout the 16-month study period.
Patients in the United States are expected to begin receiving the treatment in early 2026, with other countries including the UK likely to follow shortly afterward. This development comes amid growing concerns about counterfeit weight loss treatments, with police recently seizing fake weight loss jabs worth £25,000 in a first-of-its-kind raid.
