A new daily pill for weight loss, orforglipron, could help people shed up to a fifth of their body weight, according to a trial by Eli Lilly. The study involved 3,127 adults with obesity, none of whom had diabetes, and found that one in five participants taking the pill for 72 weeks lost 20% or more of their weight.
Orforglipron targets the same GLP-1 receptors as popular weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy but in an oral form, which is easier to store, distribute, and use. Patients on the highest dose, 36mg daily, lost an average of 11.2% of their body weight, with more than half achieving at least a 10% reduction. Other health markers, including blood pressure, waist size, and cholesterol, also improved.
Side effects were generally mild to moderate and gastrointestinal in nature. The pill has not yet been approved by the FDA or other regulators, but Eli Lilly anticipates high demand upon launch. Experts say oral GLP-1 therapies could make weight loss treatment more accessible and convenient for millions currently unable or unwilling to use injections.
Separate research suggests that GLP-1 drugs may also benefit children with obesity or type 2 diabetes, though side effects are more common, highlighting the need for longer-term studies.
