Oral daily dose of GLP-1 medication may exhibit comparable effectiveness to weekly injections, according to pharmaceutical company claims.
In a significant development for the management of Type 2 diabetes, Eli Lilly has developed a new oral GLP-1 pill called orforglipron. The pill, currently under study, shows promising weight loss benefits, achieving an average weight loss of about 12.4% over 72 weeks for adults with Type 2 diabetes.
Orforglipron offers a potentially more convenient, pill-based alternative to injectable GLP-1 drugs, such as Wegovy and tirzepatide. One of the key advantages of orforglipron is its oral administration. This ease of use may improve adherence and patient preference, especially for those opposed to needles or who find injections inconvenient.
Moreover, orforglipron does not require refrigeration and can be stored in a standard medicine cabinet, making it more accessible. Its side effects, while similar to injectables, are generally mild to moderate, including gastrointestinal-related symptoms.
However, orforglipron's weight loss results are less potent than injectable options like Wegovy (15%) and tirzepatide (up to 21%). Over 10% of trial participants on the highest doses of orforglipron chose to stop due to side effects, similar to injectables but still notable. Additionally, while orforglipron improves glycemic control and weight loss, long-term cardiovascular outcome data are less established compared to some injectable GLP-1 drugs known for cardiovascular risk reduction.
In Phase 3 trials involving over 3,100 overweight or obese adults, trial participants on the highest dose of 36 mg of orforglipron lost about 27 pounds, representing about 12% of their body weight. Adults in the trials lost an average of 27.3 pounds with orforglipron over 72 weeks.
Kenneth Custer, an executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, stated that orforglipron could support early intervention and long-term disease management. Eli Lilly plans to submit the daily orforglipron pill for global regulatory approval by the end of 2025.
Novo Nordisk is also seeking approval for an oral version of its Wegovy semaglutide medication. Pills can be a future option for people wishing to transition away from injectables. As medications in pill forms are cheaper to manufacture, potentially making them cheaper for consumers, orforglipron may offer a cost-effective solution for managing Type 2 diabetes.
Eli Lilly is preparing for a global launch of orforglipron to address obesity and related health issues. Orforglipron showed cardiovascular improvements in the trial participants, including lower systolic blood pressure, lower non-HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides. Additionally, orforglipron could help reduce hemoglobin A1C levels in addition to weight loss.
As federal health regulators want to see more complete data on safety, tolerability, and effectiveness before considering the pills for approval, further study is needed. However, orforglipron offers a promising new option for managing Type 2 diabetes and associated health issues, particularly for those seeking a more convenient, pill-based alternative to injectable medications.
The new oral GLP-1 pill, orforglipron, developed by Eli Lilly, offers a convenient alternative to injectable medications for managing Type 2 diabetes due to its oral administration, potentially improving adherence and patient preference. Future studies will be necessary to establish long-term cardiovascular outcome data for orforglipron, as these are currently less established compared to some injectable GLP-1 drugs. With the potential for cost-effectiveness and improved glycemic control, orforglipron could support early intervention and long-term disease management for Type 2 diabetes, making it a promising new option in health-and-wellness, particularly in the realm of weight-management and nutrition. While still awaiting global regulatory approval, the pill could offer a more accessible treatment option, free from the need for refrigeration.
