A new daily pill called orforglipron has shown promise in helping people with obesity lose up to 20% of their body weight, according to a trial by Eli Lilly. In a study of 3,127 adults over 72 weeks, one in five participants taking the pill lost a fifth of their weight or more.
Orforglipron targets GLP-1 receptors, similar to weight-loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, but in a tablet form that is easier to take, store, and distribute. Patients on the highest dose, 36mg daily, lost an average of 11.2% of their weight, while over half reduced their weight by at least 10%. Improvements were also seen in blood pressure, waist size, and cholesterol levels.
Side effects were mostly mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues. The pill is not yet approved by the FDA or other regulators, but experts say it could make effective obesity treatments more accessible and less costly compared with injectable medications.
Researchers emphasize that further studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects, particularly in children and adolescents, where initial trials suggest benefits but with a higher risk of stomach issues.
