Oral GLP-1 weight loss drug proves successful in latest human trial

On Tuesday, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly said its new oral GLP-1 drug was shown to be effective at lowering weight and A1C, a key blood sugar marker. Despite the oral drug being a little less effective than the injectable version, researchers say the oral version may be sufficient for many patients. 

Researchers tested an oral medication of orforglipron on 1,600 overweight or obese adults with Type 2 diabetes. The company said those who took the highest dose of the drug lost an average of 22.9 pounds over 72 weeks, compared to 5.1 pounds in the placebo group. 

The study also checked A1C levels and found that they fell 1.8 percentage points on average among the high-dosage users. Researchers also found that 75% of them reached an A1C of ≤ 6.5%, a threshold associated with remission in diabetes. 

Why it matters

Researchers believe that since orforglipron is an oral drug instead of an injectable one like Ozempic, it would be accessible to more patients. Not only would the way of taking the drug be easier for most, but the company also said the drug would be cheaper to manufacture. 

Unlike Ozempic or Wegovy, orforglipron is a small-molecule pill. This means scientists manufacture it through standard chemical synthesis, similar to most everyday drugs, such as blood pressure medication.

Ozempic, for example, is a GLP-1 analog peptide. Scientists have to grow these large, protein-like molecules in living cells before purifying them. This process is far more complex and expensive. 

Are there any issues with the drug?

Like any other weight loss drug, there are common gastrointestinal issues. The most common were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. About 11% of participants in the study stopped taking the drugs due to these issues; about 5% of the placebo group did the same. 

Researchers are also monitoring how the drug affects liver-enzyme elevations. In the past, researchers had to terminate studies on other drugs similar to orforglipron because of this effect. So far, researchers have not seen that interaction with Orforglipron. 

GLP-1s can also change how the body absorbs some oral medications. However, researchers haven’t seen the same effect with orforglipron as with other weight loss drugs, but they are still monitoring it just in case.

When can people expect this drug on the market?

Although Eli Lilly hasn’t announced a release date, the drug may become available to the public soon. 

The company expects to begin regulatory submissions by the end of the year. It is also looking at acquiring a fast-track review by the Federal Drug Administration. If the drug is fast-tracked and no delays occur, it could reach consumers as early as 2026.