New Weight-Loss Pill Offers Hope for Those wary of Injections
LONDON – A new once-daily oral therapy for obesity, orforglipron, is being developed by Eli Lilly as an option to weight-loss injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro, potentially appealing to individuals uncomfortable with needles. Recent study results, involving 3,127 adults who were obese or overweight with a weight-related medical problem but without diabetes, measured weight loss over 72 weeks.
The pill demonstrates promise as a tool in combating the global obesity crisis, which impacts over one billion people worldwide, according to Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health. “With orforglipron, we’re working to transform obesity care by introducing a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments,” Custer saeid last month.However, the tablet shares similar side effects to the injectable medications, with approximately one in four participants experiencing diarrhoea and one in six reporting nausea.Some participants also experienced pancreatitis.
Eli Lilly plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end, with preparations for a global launch to address the urgent public health need.The development comes as the company recently scaled back plans to significantly increase the cost of Mounjaro following agreements with pharmacists and private providers to maintain lower prices. Under the revised pricing, the top dose will now cost £247.50-nearly £100 less than the initially proposed price increase-with proportional discounts applied to lower strengths.
Lilly stated it is “working with private providers on commercial arrangements to maintain affordability and expect these to be passed onto patients when the change is effective on 1 September.” The move follows a surge in patients stockpiling Mounjaro due to concerns over rising costs.