An oral GLP-1 medication, similar in function to Ozempic, is approaching approval by the FDA.
Developed by the American pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, the pill, named orforglipron, is in line with the company’s injectable offerings, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
While medications like Ozempic by Novo Nordisk and Mounjaro are approved for diabetes treatment, other injectable forms, such as Wegovy, are used solely for weight reduction.
GLP-1 drugs assist in controlling blood sugar by enhancing insulin secretion and slowing down digestion, thereby reducing hunger.
Orforglipron has demonstrated promising outcomes in a significant clinical trial with over 1,600 participants with type 2 diabetes.
The study, spearheaded by obesity-medicine expert Deborah Horn from the University of Texas, has been recently published in The Lancet and shows positive results.
Participants took varying doses of the daily pill over a 72-week period.
Those receiving the highest dose of 36 mg experienced an average body weight loss of 9.6 percent.
Participants taking 12 mg lost 7 percent, those on 6 mg lost 5.1 percent, and individuals on a placebo pill lost only 2.5 percent for comparison.
Notably, 26 percent of participants on the highest dose achieved over 15 percent bodyweight reduction.
Besides weight loss, it enhanced participants’ blood glucose levels, reduced inflammation, and improved blood sugar.
The study authors noted: “Overall the findings indicate that orforglipron could address the unmet need for oral therapy by achieving outcomes similar to those of injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, potentially shifting treatment paradigms.”
While orforglipron’s results are not as pronounced as those seen with tirzepatide injections like Mounjaro and Zepbound, which achieved up to 15 percent body weight loss in diabetic patients, its convenience as a pill could revolutionize the treatment landscape.
The pill is expected to be notably more affordable compared to its injectable counterparts.
According to NRP, agreements exist with the Trump administration to distribute upcoming obesity pills at a cash price of $149 per month.
Reports suggest the average cost of injectable GLP-1 drugs in the U.S. is slightly below $1,000.
Study leader Horn commented: “We know it is harder for individuals with diabetes to lose weight. It is exciting to have an oral medication that provides double-digit weight loss.
“Once FDA approved, orforglipron is scheduled to be available in 2026 at a significantly decreased cost compared to current injectables.
“This could position it to be the ‘metformin’ of obesity and become widely covered by insurance plans, opening the door to treatment for all.”
LADbible Group reached out to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for responses.