​What is Orforglipron, the pill alternative to Ozempic

In the world of weight loss, Ozempic has had a massive glow-up moment. It's the star of every fitness blog, influencer video, and celeb weight-loss journey. But now, there's a new kid on the block—and it doesn’t even need a needle. It's Orforglipron! It belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists, just like Ozempic and Wegovy. These are drugs that mimic a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which helps regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion.
Orforglipron, developed by Eli Lilly, represents a significant advancement in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Unlike traditional GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic, which require injections, orforglipron is a non-peptide, oral medication that offers a convenient alternative for patients seeking effective weight management solutions.
"Eli Lilly and Company today announced positive topline Phase 3 results from ACHIEVE-1, evaluating the safety and efficacy of orforglipron compared to placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control with diet and exercise alone. Orforglipron is the first oral small molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, taken without food and water restrictions, to successfully complete a Phase 3 trial. If approved, the company is confident in its ability to launch orforglipron worldwide without supply constraints. This would further Lilly's mission to reduce chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is expected to impact an estimated 760 million adults by 2050," the pharma maker said in an official release today.
Orforglipron was discovered by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and licensed by Lilly in 2018.
The trial involved 559 individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes across multiple countries, including the U.S., China, India, Japan, and Mexico. "In the first Phase 3 trial of the ACHIEVE program, orforglipron met the primary endpoint of superior A1C reduction compared to placebo at 40 weeks, lowering A1C by an average of 1.3% to 1.6% from a baseline of 8.0%, using the efficacy estimand," the company said.

One of the primary benefits of orforglipron is its oral administration, eliminating the need for injections. This feature enhances patient compliance and eliminates the discomfort associated with injectable treatments. Furthermore, orforglipron can be taken without restrictions related to food or water intake, simplifying the medication regimen compared to oral semaglutide, which requires fasting prior to consumption .
People with type 2 diabetes, individuals struggling with obesity or being overweight, those who want to lose weight but can’t tolerate injections and patients who didn’t respond well to other GLP-1 injectables might benefit from this drug.
The safety profile of orforglipron is consistent with other GLP-1 receptor agonists. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, which typically occur during the initial stages of treatment and often diminish over time . Serious adverse events were rare and comparable to those observed with other medications in the same class.