Daily weight loss pill that works like Ozempic helped users lose almost TWO STONE in groundbreaking trial
A daily weight loss pill that works like breakthrough fat jab Ozempic can help users lose an average of almost two stones (12.4kg), a study reveals.
People taking the new wonder drug orforglipron lost an average of 12.4 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks in a groundbreaking final stage trial.
The participants, who were overweight but did not have diabetes, also benefited from reductions in bad cholesterol, blood fats and blood pressure.
Manufacturer Lilly said the once-a-day pill—the first of its kind—could be launched ‘at scale’ worldwide and ‘without supply constraints’ as early as next year.
It now plans to apply for regulatory approval within months. Previous studies examined patients with diabetes.
The drug works by targeting the same GLP-1 receptors as Blockbuster weight-loss jabs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which suppress appetite and make users fill fuller for longer.
Lilly has not yet decided how much the drug will cost but it is easier to produce and transport that injections so is likely to be a cheaper option.
The pill can be stored at room temperature and taken at any time of day, with or without food.
Manufacturer Lilly said the once-a-day pill could be launched ‘at scale’ worldwide and ‘without supply constraints’ as early as next year
It is seen as a new tool in the nation’s fight against obesity and is likely to appeal to a wider audience who are uncomfortable with injecting themselves.
The 72-week study involved 3,127 adults who were obese or were overweight and had a weight-related medical problem.
Participants were given either a placebo or one of three possible doses of orforglipron.
All three doses delivered ‘clinically meaningful weight loss’ but those taking the highest dose of 36mg lost an average of 27lbs (12.4kg), or 12.4 per cent of their body weight, over the study period.
Almost six in ten patients (59.6 per cent) in the highest dose group lost at least 10 per cent of their body weight and four in ten (39.6 per cent) lost at least 15 per cent.
Those in the placebo group lost an average of just 0.9 per cent of their body weight over the course of the study, known as ATTAIN-1.
Researchers say it demonstrates the tablet has ‘significant efficacy’ and a safety and tolerability profile consistent with fat jabs.
Lilly said it is making ‘substantial investments to meet anticipated demand at launch’.
Dr Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said: ‘Obesity is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, driving global chronic disease burden and impacting more than one billion people worldwide.
‘With orforglipron, we’re working to transform obesity care by introducing a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments.
‘With these positive data in hand, we are now planning to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end and are prepared for a global launch to address this urgent public health need.’
Side effects on the tablet were similar to the weight-loss injections.
The most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal-related and generally mild-to-moderate in severity.
Some 33.7 per cent of participants on the highest dose reported nausea, 25.4 per cent constipation and 23.1 per cent diahorrea.
One in ten (10.3 per cent) of those on the highest dose discontinued treatment due to adverse events.
The detailed ATTAIN-1 results will be presented next month at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Previous studies found people injected with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, lost 14 per cent of their body weight over 72 weeks.
And those taking tirzepatide, known as Mounjaro or the ‘king kong’ of weight-loss jabs, lost 20 per cent of their body weight over the the same period.
Two in three adults in Britain are obese or overweight and more than 5million people have type-2 diabetes, which is linked to poor lifestyles.
Estimates suggest one in ten women already take weight loss jabs.
GLP-1 injections suffered global shortages after celebrity users sparked a surge in popularity and the NHS has warned people against buying them from unauthorised sources.
