New oral weight loss pills may soon help people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) manage obesity and diabetes more easily. Experts say these pills could be the key to fighting rising health problems in areas where people cannot easily access modern treatments.
In many richer nations, injectable weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro have helped thousands lose weight and control blood sugar. But these shots must be kept cold and given in specific ways, making them harder to use in places with fewer resources.
Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow explained why this matters. “In LMICs where obesity is rising fast, easy-to-use pills that lower blood sugar and protect the heart could change lives,” he said.
New Pill: Orforglipron Shows Promise
Eli Lilly, the company behind Mounjaro, is now developing a new pill called orforglipron. It works like other weight loss drugs by mimicking a natural hormone called GLP-1. This hormone helps people feel full and improves how the body uses insulin.
But orforglipron has one big advantage over others: it is a pill, not a shot. That means it does not need to be kept cold and can be taken with food. This makes it easier and cheaper to use, especially in warmer countries without good refrigeration.
In a 40-week study, people who took orforglipron lost weight and lowered their blood sugar. The results were close to what people get with injectables. And unlike oral semaglutide, another pill on the market, orforglipron does not require fasting before taking it.
Dr. Louis Aronne of Weill Cornell Medical College said this type of drug could help people before they even get diabetes. “You don’t need to wait for diabetes if you can prevent it,” he said.
Easy Access Could Mean Better Health for All
Experts say pills like orforglipron could make weight loss treatment fairer. Many people in LMICs cannot get injectables due to high costs or poor healthcare systems. A pill they can take at home would help close that gap.
Right now, obesity is a growing problem worldwide. And in many countries, people are gaining weight faster than ever. This can lead to more heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Biological changes in the brain also make it hard for people to keep weight off with diet alone. Medications that help control hunger and blood sugar are becoming more important.
“Better food and diets are key, but medicine may still be needed to help people who are already struggling,” said Professor Sattar.
Health Gaps in Ethnic Groups Widen the Problem
Some people develop diabetes at lower body weights than others. For example, South Asians and Black people often face health risks even if they are not very overweight. This makes it even more important to have tools that work for all groups.
A small weight gain in these groups can lead to a big jump in diabetes cases. So, having easy and safe treatments could help lower this risk.
Dr. Aronne stressed the urgency: “We need better tools now. Pills like orforglipron may help many more people than shots can.”
Safety Still Needs Study
While early results are good, experts warn that more research is needed. The new pills must be tested in larger groups, including people without diabetes. Safety is also a concern.
Recently, Pfizer stopped work on a similar drug due to liver side effects. This shows the need for long-term studies before these pills are used widely.
Still, many experts are hopeful. Oral drugs that are easy to take and cheap to make could help millions. They may also reduce healthcare costs by lowering the need for hospital care.
The Future of Obesity Treatment
The idea is simple: give people a pill they can take once a day to stay healthy. If these drugs are safe and affordable, they could change how we treat obesity and diabetes around the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the rise in non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease. They say that many of these problems are preventable with the right tools.
Orforglipron and other new pills could be one of those tools. They may not replace healthy eating or exercise, but they can offer support for people who need extra help.
Professor Sattar summed it up well: “The more safe and effective weight loss drugs we have—especially oral ones—the better we’ll be able to improve public health around the world.”