A promising daily weight loss pill helped users shed up to a fifth of their body weight in a major trial. The drug, orforglipron, is an oral version of the GLP-1 jabs that are in high demand across the globe. Led by Canadian scientists and sponsored by the pill’s manufacturer Eli Lilly, the study involved more than 3,000 people living with obesity in nine countries.
They were randomly assigned to receive one of three doses of the drug or a placebo for 72 weeks. The findings were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, Austria, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The authors wrote: “The patients who received the highest dose of orforglipron had an average 11.2% weight reduction; more than one third had a reduction of at least 15%, and nearly one fifth had a reduction of at least 20%.”
Mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects were noted, as seen with other weight loss medications.
The authors noted that jab-based drugs had been shown to result in higher average weight loss but require injections that cannot be tolerated by all patients.
Study leader Dr Sean Wharton of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, said: “This could mean an expansion of obesity interventions to groups who are currently excluded due to the cost of and lack of access to injectable medications.”
Eli Lilly has confirmed plans to apply for approval around the world, including from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), by the end of the year.
Experts have said a widely-available weight loss bill that is cheaper and easier to access could help meet high demand for GLP-1 medications.
James O’Loan, chief executive and superintendent pharmacist at Chemist4U, said an effective pill “could make treatment more accessible, less intimidating, and easier to integrate into daily routines”.
He added: “While injectable GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have already shown strong results for weight management, many people find the idea of weekly injections off putting.
“Orforglipron could offer a simpler alternative: one tablet taken once a day. For those who are needle-phobic or who prefer the convenience of oral medication, this could make a real difference.
“A pill form also makes travelling easier and removes the need for needle disposal.”