Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has announced promising results from a major clinical trial of its new oral weight-loss drug, orforglipron, which could offer a more convenient alternative to existing injectable obesity treatments.
The trial involved over 3,100 overweight or obese adults with weight-related health conditions but no diabetes. Participants who took orforglipron daily for nearly 18 months lost an average of 12% of their body weight, or approximately 27 pounds. In contrast, those who received a placebo lost just over two pounds.
The company plans to present the full findings in September at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and intends to seek regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of the year. If approved, the drug could reach patients in 2026.
Unlike Lilly’s injectable weight-loss medication tirzepatide—marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity— orforglipron targets only the GLP-1 hormone, rather than both GLP-1 and GIP. That distinction, combined with its oral formulation, could make it a more appealing option for people wary of injections.
Dr. Dan Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific officer, said the drug’s performance exceeded expectations. “The safety, tolerability, and efficacy were all in line with what we achieved with the injectable drug, yet now delivered in an easy-to-use, once-a-day pill,” he said.
Participants in the study also showed improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including reductions in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammation markers. These benefits align with earlier findings that GLP-1-based drugs can reduce the risk of heart disease.
To minimize gastrointestinal side effects, patients gradually increased their dosage, starting at 6 mg and eventually reaching a 36 mg maintenance dose over several weeks. Skovronsky noted that despite concerns about higher drug exposure in the digestive tract with oral administration, side effects were consistent with those seen in injectable versions.
While adherence to a daily pill can be challenging, the study found that occasional missed doses did not significantly impact tolerability or side effects.
Orforglipron’s potential approval would position Lilly in direct competition with Novo Nordisk, whose oral semaglutide (used in Ozempic and Wegovy) is already approved for diabetes and under review for obesity treatment.
Experts believe that having an oral option could widen access to weight-loss medication, lower costs, and allow for earlier intervention in obesity management. Lilly is also studying the drug’s effectiveness in helping patients maintain weight loss over time.
