Orforglipron Pill Helps Maintain Weight Loss After GLP-1 Injections
Quick Look
A new daily pill, orforglipron, has shown to help maintain weight loss in patients who stopped using GLP-1 injections, with 70% of weight loss retained over a year in trials.
AI-generated summary
The drug orforglipron, in trials, helped patients maintain weight loss after stopping GLP-1 injections, with 70% of weight loss retained. Available in the US, it may soon launch in the UK. Experts note the need for long-term studies but see the pill as potentially more attractive than injections. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer, also produces Mounjaro, while rival Novo Nordisk develops an oral version of Wegovy.
The study involved 376 US participants who had used GLP-1 jabs for over a year, achieving significant weight loss. After switching to orforglipron or a placebo for a year, those on orforglipron retained more weight loss (over 70%) compared to the placebo group (38-50%).
Dr. Marie Spreckley of the University of Cambridge, not involved in the study, highlights the uncertainty over long-term effects but notes the pill’s potential appeal. Orforglipron works by mimicking a hormone that reduces appetite. In the US, it costs around $149/month for the lowest dose, cheaper than some GLP-1 injections. UK pricing is undetermined.
Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy has US approval, with a UK decision pending, indicating a potential market for such medications in the UK.
