A new daily pill called orforglipron has shown strong results in helping people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower their blood sugar levels. The medicine, developed by drug company Eli Lilly, is being tested as a simpler option to injectable weight loss drugs.
New Hope for Obesity and Diabetes Patients
The recent phase 3 clinical trial followed 559 people from the United States, China, India, Japan, and Mexico. These participants had both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Over 40 weeks, they took different doses of orforglipron, a once-daily pill that works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1. This hormone helps control blood sugar and appetite.
The results were promising. People who took the highest dose—36 milligrams daily—lost an average of 7.3 kilograms, which is about 16 pounds. Many also saw big improvements in their blood sugar. In fact, some patients’ sugar levels dropped so much they were no longer in the diabetes range.
An Easier Option Than Injections
What makes orforglipron different is that it is a pill, not an injection. Other drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy also work by targeting the GLP-1 hormone, but they must be taken by injection. This can be hard for some people to manage.
David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, said, “As a daily pill, orforglipron could expand global access to this therapy.” That means more people, especially in low- and middle-income countries, might be able to get the help they need.
Breaking Down the Trial Data
The study measured weight-loss and blood sugar levels, as well as how safe and easy the pill was to use. The trial found:
- A 4.5% weight loss with a 3mg dose
- A 5.8% weight loss with a 12mg dose
- A 7.6% weight loss with a 36mg dose
The pill also helped lower blood sugar levels by 1.2% to 1.5%, depending on the dosage. These are important results for people trying to manage type 2 diabetes, where blood sugar can be hard to control.
Moving Toward FDA Approval
Eli Lilly plans to ask for approval to use the drug for weight management later this year. They will also seek approval for type 2 diabetes in 2025. Full trial data will be shared in June at the American Diabetes Association meeting, and a detailed report will be published in a medical journal.
Experts in the medical field are optimistic. Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow called the findings “important results.” He believes orforglipron could work better than many diabetes drugs that are currently available.
However, Sattar also pointed out that more studies are needed. “We need to learn more about how this drug affects the heart over time,” he said. That means long-term studies will still be needed before the drug becomes widely used.
Part of a Bigger Trend in Medicine
Orforglipron is part of a larger trend of developing new treatments for weight loss and diabetes. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are major health problems worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, more than 650 million people are obese. Over 400 million people live with diabetes. Both conditions can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and kidney problems.
New drugs that help with both weight and blood sugar could help reduce these risks. Medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have already gained popularity. But pills like orforglipron could offer a simpler and cheaper option.
Side Effects and Safety
Like all medicines, orforglipron has some side effects. In earlier trials, some people had nausea, diarrhea, or constipation. But most people said the side effects were mild and went away over time. The recent phase 3 trial confirmed the pill was safe and well-tolerated.
Doctors and scientists will be watching future studies to make sure the pill stays safe in the long run.
If orforglipron is approved, it could become a game-changer in the fight against obesity and diabetes. It could give people a new way to manage their health without the need for needles.
Eli Lilly’s move also puts pressure on other drug companies to develop easier-to-use treatments. This could drive prices down and improve access for people around the world.
The full trial results and safety data will be closely watched when they are released in June. Until then, the medical community remains hopeful that orforglipron could be the next big step in treating two of the world’s most serious health challenges.