A new daily pill, orforglipron, has been shown in a trial to help people lose as much as a fifth of their body weight, offering a potentially easier and more accessible alternative to weight loss injections. Manufactured by Eli Lilly, the pill targets GLP-1 receptors, similar to drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy.
In a study of 3,127 adults with obesity but without diabetes, one in five participants taking the pill for 72 weeks lost 20% or more of their body weight. Those on the highest 36mg dose lost an average of 11.2%, with more than half losing at least 10%, and over a third losing 15% or more. Even the lowest 6mg dose resulted in an average 7.5% reduction in body weight.
Participants also saw improvements in blood pressure, waist size, and cholesterol. Side effects were mostly mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues.
Orforglipron is not yet approved by the US FDA or other regulators, but experts say the tablet could broaden access to obesity treatments, providing a cheaper and more convenient option than injections. Longer-term studies and follow-ups will be needed to understand its effects fully, especially in younger populations.
