Recent findings from early clinical trials, disclosed on Thursday, suggest that a new oral medication may provide similar blood sugar-lowering and weight-loss benefits as injectable treatments such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. This new pill, known as orforglipron, belongs to the GLP-1 class of medications developed by Eli Lilly.

Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, the chief scientific officer at Lilly, emphasized in an interview with the New York Times that “in the coming decades, more than 700 million individuals worldwide are expected to have Type 2 diabetes, and over a billion will face obesity. Injections cannot serve as a viable solution for billions globally.”

In contrast to current GLP-1 therapies, orforglipron is a nonpeptide compound, which eliminates the need for refrigeration or injections, representing a significant advancement that could enhance global accessibility.

The clinical trial

According to Eli Lilly, the company intends to request approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this year. They aim to promote orforglipron for obesity and plan to introduce it for diabetes in early 2026.

The clinical trial included 559 individuals with Type 2 diabetes who were administered the drug for a duration of 40 weeks. Those who received orforglipron experienced reductions in blood sugar levels ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 percent, with 65 percent of participants achieving blood sugar levels within the normal range. Additionally, participants lost as much as 16 pounds, which is comparable to Ozempic, although slightly less than the weight loss observed with Mounjaro.

What are the side effects?

The side effects associated with orforglipron are similar to those experienced with injectable GLP-1 medications, such as diarrhea, indigestion, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Experts warn that broader usage may uncover additional safety issues. As reported by the New York Times, Pfizer has recently suspended its development of a GLP-1 pill due to concerns regarding potential liver damage.

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