Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is expected to launch a new weight loss pill.
In a significant development for weight loss treatment, the new pill Orforglipron, developed by Eli Lilly, has shown promising results in a major Phase 3 trial (ATTAIN-1). The oral medication, which works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), has achieved about 12.4% weight loss (27 pounds) over 72 weeks for the highest dose, versus about 0.9-2.1% weight loss in placebo groups[1][2][3][4].
Orforglipron offers convenience by being a daily pill, which may improve patient willingness compared to weekly injections. However, experts regard its weight loss results as "modest" and less competitive relative to injectables like Wegovy or Lilly’s own injectable Zepbound[2][4]. These injectable drugs have shown weight loss around 15-21% in comparable trials, making them more potent in reducing body weight[2].
The difference in efficacy can be attributed to the fact that Orforglipron only targets the GLP-1 hormone, while drugs like tirzepatide (Zepbound) target both GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which may contribute to their greater efficacy[1].
Concerns have been raised by experts and analysts, including lower weight loss compared to injectables, market competitiveness, and safety and side effects. Analysts considered Orforglipron’s Phase 3 results below expectations, describing it as underperforming relative to Lilly’s injectable treatments and competitors like Wegovy[2][4].
The most common side effects of Orforglipron are nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. However, detailed side effect data from the trial has not yet been fully published[1].
When compared to oral medication like Rybelsus (approved for diabetes), Orforglipron is a later-generation oral GLP-1 agonist designed specifically for weight loss rather than glucose control. Orforglipron’s larger trials demonstrate significant weight loss not seen with Rybelsus, which generally has a more modest weight reduction effect because it is not indicated for obesity treatment[1].
However, the therapy with weight loss pills is only compared with a placebo in studies, and metabolic researcher Stefan Kabisch criticizes that highly effective dietary therapies are also capable of achieving such strong weight loss under the same conditions[5].
Orforglipron must be taken once a day, with dosages ranging from 6 to 36 milligrams. The US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly plans to apply for approval of a weight loss pill by the end of the year[6].
Despite the promising results, experts caution that Orforglipron may not be a breakthrough in obesity treatment due to the potential yo-yo effect when stopping the medication[7]. This is a concern shared by many weight loss treatments, where weight regain is common after discontinuation.
In 2019, more than half of German adults were overweight or obese[8], making the need for effective weight loss treatments more urgent. However, the results of the Phase-3 study have not yet been published in a specialist journal[1].
References: 1. ClinicalTrials.gov - ATTAIN-1 (NCT03925825) 2. Reuters 3. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology 4. The New York Times 5. Deutsche Welle 6. Reuters 7. The Guardian 8. Statista
Vocational training programs within the community could help individuals manage their weight and promote overall health-and-wellness by incorporating science-based weight-management strategies into their curriculum. However, the modesty of Orforglipron's weight loss results, as seen in the Phase 3 trial, might be a cause for concern when comparing it to more potent injectable weight loss treatments available today.
