Oral Weight Loss Pill Orforglipron Shows Promising Results in Clinical Trials
A new study published in The lancet indicates that the oral medication orforglipron, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, demonstrates significant weight loss potential in overweight and obese individuals, approaching the effectiveness of current injectable weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
The study involved over 1,500 adults across ten countries, all of whom were overweight or obese and also had type 2 diabetes. Participants received both nutrition and exercise recommendations alongside daily doses of orforglipron. Those taking the highest tested dose of 36 milligrams experienced an average weight loss of ten percent over 72 weeks,compared to just two percent weight loss in the placebo group.
A previous study involving participants without diabetes showed an average weight loss of twelve percent with orforglipron.
Orforglipron functions by activating GLP-1 receptors, influencing hunger, gastric emptying, and insulin release. Unlike existing GLP-1 medications, which are primarily administered via injection, orforglipron is designed to be taken as a pill without requiring fasting or specific intake guidelines, perhaps increasing convenience for patients.
Like other GLP-1 drugs, orforglipron was associated with side effects including nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting, though these typically occurred at the beginning of treatment.
Study leader Deborah Horn described the pill as “extremely engaging,” particularly for individuals hesitant to undergo injection therapy. Approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could also lead to a more affordable alternative to injectable options.
Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, is currently leading the advancement of orforglipron, following Pfizer’s recent discontinuation of it’s weight loss pill danuglipron due to concerns about potential liver damage.
If approved, orforglipron is not expected to be available in Germany until at least 2026.