A new daily pill may reshape oral treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers tested orforglipron against oral semaglutide in a large phase 3 trial.
Eli Lilly developed the drug to target GLP-1 receptors.
The therapy lowers blood sugar, slows stomach emptying, and reduces appetite.
Patients can take the tablet without fasting requirements.
Regulators have not yet approved orforglipron in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Europe.
The US Food and Drug Administration currently reviews the medication.
Today, oral semaglutide remains the only GLP-1 pill for diabetes in the United States.
Doctors prescribe it as Rybelsus for glucose control.
Injectable semaglutide and tirzepatide still produce greater weight loss than existing tablets.
Researchers enrolled more than 1,500 adults with type 2 diabetes.
They conducted the study across 131 hospitals and research centres.
The sites operated in Argentina, China, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.
Participants received treatment for one year.
Some participants took 12 milligrams of orforglipron daily.
Others received a 36 milligram dose.
The comparison groups took 7 or 14 milligrams of oral semaglutide.
Patients using orforglipron lost between six and eight percent of their body weight.
Semaglutide users lost about four to five percent.
Orforglipron also reduced average blood sugar more effectively.
More participants stopped orforglipron because of side effects.
Nine to ten percent discontinued the treatment.
Four to five percent stopped semaglutide.
Most withdrawals followed gastrointestinal symptoms.
Experts expect oral GLP-1 drugs to expand access to treatment.
Tablets simplify storage, transport, and daily use.
Lower production costs could improve global availability.
Tam Fry from the National Obesity Forum praised the simple dosing schedule.
He urged strict prescribing rules to prevent misuse.
Marie Spreckley from the University of Cambridge highlighted tolerability concerns.
She noted the higher discontinuation rate may affect long-term adherence.
She also stressed the limited duration of the trial.
Long-term safety and cardiovascular outcomes remain uncertain.
Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow called the findings important for diabetes care.
He supported treatments that address weight, glucose, and cardiovascular risk together.
He predicted incretin-based therapies could become first-line options within the next decade.
Such therapies may help many patients achieve prolonged remission from type 2 diabetes.
