New Daily Pill Shows Promise in Weight Loss, Offering Cheaper Choice to Injections
November 20, 2025 – A new oral medication, orforglipron, developed by Eli Lilly, has demonstrated notable weight loss results in a large-scale clinical trial, possibly offering a more accessible and affordable option to currently available injectable weight-loss drugs. The findings, published today in The Lancet, reveal participants lost on average around 10% of thier body weight over 72 weeks.
The study involved over 1,500 adults across 10 countries wiht both obesity and type 2 diabetes. participants taking the highest dose of 36mg of orforglipron experienced approximately 10% weight loss, compared to just 2% for those receiving a placebo, while also following dietary and exercise recommendations. This builds on earlier 2025 research showing similar results – around 12% weight loss – in individuals without diabetes.
Orforglipron belongs to a new generation of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which includes the popular injectables semaglutide and tirzepatide. While highly effective, these existing treatments require regular injections, refrigeration, and carry a substantial cost – frequently enough exceeding US$1,000 (RM4,144) per month in the United states.
“It is exciting to have an oral medication that provides double-digit weight loss, which on average was 23lb (10kg),” saeid study lead author Assistant Prof Dr Deborah Horn, in a statement released by the UT Center for Obesity Medicine and Metabolic Performance.
Though orforglipron’s weight loss results are currently lower than those achieved with weekly injectable tirzepatide (22% weight loss over the same period), Eli Lilly anticipates the pill will be available in 2026 at a “significantly decreased cost” compared to injectables, should it receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Side effects observed in the trial mirrored those associated with injectable GLP-1 drugs, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea, particularly at higher doses.
The growth comes as pharmaceutical companies race to create a convenient and affordable pill version of these powerful weight-loss medications.Experts have also called for the development of low-cost generic versions – potentially producible for as little as US$4 (RM16.58) a month – to address the global obesity crisis. According to the World Health organization (WHO), over 3.7 million people died from obesity-related illnesses in 2021, exceeding deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined.
Originally developed for diabetes, GLP-1 drugs are now being investigated for potential benefits in treating a range of conditions including heart disease, sleep apnoea, and addiction.
