New weight loss pill could be a convenient alternative to Ozempic and Mounjaro: Here’s why

More than 2 in 5 adults in the US are grappling with obesity, which is nearly 42% of the adult population. As HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. has vowed to Make America Healthy Again, the weight-loss drugs are expected to join the mission along with lifestyle changes. Eli Lilly's (LLY.N) new experimental pill has seen success in its Phase 3 clinical trial. The new pill, orforglipron could transform the booming market for GLP-1 drugs. The company has confirmed that it has worked as well as the blockbuster drug Ozempic to lower weight and blood sugar in a trial of diabetes patients. Lilly, which already markets the diabetes drug Mounjaro and the weight-loss treatment Zepbound, said orforglipron matches the safety and tolerability of injectable GLP-1 drugs.

“We are pleased to see that our latest incretin medicine meets our expectations for safety and tolerability, glucose control, and weight loss, and we look forward to additional data readouts later this year," David A. Ricks, Lilly's chair and CEO, said. "As a convenient once-daily pill, orforglipron may provide a new option and, if approved, could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world."
What’s special about orfoglipron?

Lilly’s experimental pill, orforglipron, is the first oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist to complete a Phase 3 trial. You can pop in a pill daily, as advised by your doctor, and go ahead with your life. No more injections! Wait, that’s not the best part. The biggest catch is that the one-daily oral pill ‘can be taken any time of the day without restrictions on food and water intake’, as per the company. Along with the unrestrictive diet, this could cut short your frequent trips for the drug, like other GLP-1 drugs. In short, orfoglipron could become a hassle-free and effective alternative to other weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.


In a 40-week Phase 3 trial, they studied 559 participants across the US, China, India, Japan, and Mexico. They found that orforglipron has potential in lowering A1C levels, which is a key measure of blood sugar, by 1.3% to 1.6% across three doses (3 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg). Three doses are being tested - 3 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg. At the highest dose, participants lost an average of 16 pounds, or 7.9% of their body weight. They also found that people without diabetes are expected to lose even more weight. By comparison, Lilly’s injectable Zepbound achieved 15.3% to 36.2% weight loss in a 72-week study of non-diabetic adults. “The ACHIEVE Phase 3 global clinical development program for orforglipron has enrolled more than 6,000 people with type 2 diabetes across five global registrational trials. The program began in 2023 with results anticipated later this year and into 2026,” the company said.

The drug manufacturers are also studying its potential as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in adults with obesity. The company would seek regulatory approvals by the end of the year, and if it is approved, it could potentially change the weight-loss drug market.