A new daily GLP-1 pill has shown strong results in a recent clinical trial, with patients on the highest dose losing on average 9.6% of their body weight.
The pill, orforglipron, is produced by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, the brand behind popular weight loss medication Mounjaro.
Orforglipron is a daily tablet, predicted to be a game changer, as a more convenient and affordable alternative to the current weight loss medications on the market.
Methodology
The phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial spanned across 136 sites in 10 countries, across 72 weeks.
From June, 2023, to February 2024, 2859 participants were screened, and 1613 were randomly assigned to receive either 6mg, 12 mg, 36mg of orforglipron, or a placebo, in combination with lifestyle modifications.
Of the 1613 participants, 1444 completed the study.
Findings
The clinical trial found that in participants who were obese, overweight, and had type 2 diabetes, a reduction in body weight was demonstrated when orforglipron was taken once daily in combination with lifestyle modification, in comparison to the placebo.
Throughout the 72-week study, all prespecified weight and cardiometabolic measures significantly improved with orforglipron.
On average, patients who took 6mg of orfgorglipron daily for 72 weeks lost 5.1% of their baseline body weight. Patients who trialled 12mg lost on average 7% of their baseline body weight. The highest dosage, of 36mg was found to be most successful, with patients losing on average 9.6% of their body weight. Patients who consumed the placebo tablet only lost 2.5% of their body weight on average.
The most common adverse events with orforglipron were mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal events, such as nausea and diarrhoea, and therefore has a similar safety profile to other GLP-1 medications.
What happens next?
According to Eli Lilly, they plan to submit orforglipron for regulatory review to treat obesity in 2025, and for type 2 diabetes in 2026. It has been selected for the US FDA Commissioner's National Priority Review Voucher pilot program, which means it is likely that a regulatory decision will be made in the first half of 2026.
It has not been announced how much the medication will cost; however, in the US, Lilly announced that the company had come to an agreement with the US government, and if the medication is approved, patients will be able to access orforglipron through LillyDirect's pharmacy with the lowest dose starting at $149.
Further developments in weight loss medication
Orforglipron is not the only weight loss medication that is currently being developed. Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic, is currently developing an obesity pill using the active ingredient for weight loss, semaglutide, which is in Wegovy and Ozempic.
The pharma giant is also studying another compound called cagrilintide and a combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide, as an alternative weight loss medication.
As well as orforglipron, Eli Lilly is also studying retatrutide in phase 3 clinical trials for use as a weight loss medication.
What this means for aesthetic professionals
As the developing medications offer a more affordable and convenient alternative to the current weight loss medications, more patients may turn to aesthetic professionals for assisted weight loss services.
It is important for aesthetic professionals to remain up-to-date on weight loss medication developments. As weight-loss medications become more mainstream, more patients seek skin tightening, body contouring, and volumising treatments.
It is also a good opportunity to adopt more holistic approaches. Offering patients a comprehensive consultation and ensuring ongoing monitoring and lifestyle support helps to support the patient's physical and mental well-being.
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