New Daily Pill Set to Transform Access to Weight Loss Medication
Health experts are heralding a new era in obesity treatment following the successful trial of a once-a-day weight loss pill that promises to be significantly cheaper than current injection-based medications. The tablet, called orforglipron, could provide wider access to effective weight management for people who cannot afford the high cost of existing treatments.
Study Confirms Significant Weight Loss Results
A major international study published in The Lancet has confirmed the safety and effectiveness of this new oral medication. Researchers tracked 1,444 obese adults across ten countries over 16 months, with all participants receiving lifestyle advice alongside either the active drug or a placebo.
The results demonstrated substantial weight loss across different dosage levels. Patients taking the highest 36mg dose lost an average of 9.6% of their body weight, while those on 12mg and 6mg doses lost 7% and 5.1% respectively. The placebo group lost only 2.5% of their body weight during the same period.
Convenience and Cost Advantages Over Injections
As a GLP-1 agonist, orforglipron works by lowering blood sugar levels, slowing digestion and reducing appetite. Unlike current GLP-1 drugs that require injections, this oral medication offers several practical advantages.
Dr Deborah Horn, the study's senior author and medical director of the Centre for Obesity Medicine at UTHealth Houston, told PA Media: "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."
She emphasised that the pill removes significant barriers to care, requiring no injections, refrigeration, or special instructions about food and fasting. This makes it particularly suitable for global use in communities where refrigeration isn't always accessible.
Future Availability and Broader Implications
The research team confirmed that while orforglipron produces slightly less weight loss than some injectable alternatives like semaglutide or tirzepatide, it still provides substantial benefits of 10.5-12.5% total body weight loss with added convenience and predicted lower cost.
Patients in the United States are expected to begin receiving the medication in early 2026, with global availability following afterwards. Dr Horn expressed her hope that orforglipron will become the "'metformin' of obesity - a lower cost, broad coverage, low risk, highly effective medication for obesity and many of the inter-related diseases."
The study also noted that the most common side effects were mild to moderate gastrointestinal events, consistent with other GLP-1 medications. Beyond weight loss, the treatment also demonstrated benefits in reducing blood sugar levels, offering additional health advantages for patients.
