New GLP-1 pill helps patients lose up to 8% of body weight, trial shows

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/feb/26/new-glp1-pill-patients-lose-weight-trial

Orforglipron led to greater weight loss than semaglutide tablets and could offer more effective oral alternative to jabs

A new daily pill could be a more effective GLP-1 tablet for weight loss, according to a clinical trial that may pave the way for an improved non-injection alternative to Wegovy and Mounjaro.

The drug, called orforglipron and manufactured by Eli Lilly, is prescribed for type 2 diabetes and targets the same GLP-1 receptors as oral semaglutide. Like semaglutide, it lowers blood sugar levels, slows digestion and suppresses appetite. Unlike semaglutide tablets, it does not need to be taken on an empty stomach.

Orforglipron has not yet been approved by regulators in the UK, US or Europe, though the US Food and Drug Administration is reviewing it. At present, semaglutide is the only GLP-1 medication for type 2 diabetes available in pill form in the US.

49 points · 12 comments · view on lemmy.world

12 Comments

teft@piefed.social · 8 pts · 184d (2 replies)

When happens when you stop taking these drugs? Have they basically made skinny a subscription?

boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 11 pts · 184d

Theoretically your gut shrinks over time since you eat less so you could get full easier. If you fix your relationship with food, your weight should stay down.

Same thing with bariatric surgery. If you go back to eating the same, it's useless. It's a way to make it easier to develop healthier eating habits.

Gerudo@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 184d

If you don't change your habits then yes, you will gain it back.

Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io · 8 pts · 184d (2 replies)

It's not about weight, but rather body composition. I wonder how exercise compares to GLP-1. With exercise, I suspect one might lose fat mass, gain muscle and bone mass, still be at the same "weight", and be more fit.

TexasDrunk@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 183d (1 reply)

Yep. But it's not that easy for some folks. Disabilities, depression, and probably several things I'm not thinking of can affect exercise. This can help a person get over the hump and lose some weight and potentially help them fix their relationship with food. If a person is thinking long term (and isn't disabled in a way that makes exercise entirely impossible) they'll pair this with exercise or start this and once things get a little easier they'll start exercising.

Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io · 2 pts · 183d

Sounds like a plan.

Asidonhopo@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 183d (2 replies)

Orforglipron is a heck of a name

reddig33@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 183d (1 reply)
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Klairabelle@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 183d

Apparently marketing uses some combinations of phonetics so the marketed medication names checks notes feel good on the brain.

RobotToaster@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 184d

Interesting it's not a peptide, that's pretty huge.

TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone · -4 pts · 184d (2 replies)

Promoting these as weight loss drugs over treatments for diabetes is absolutely vile. The pharmaceutical industry are shameless vampires.

boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 9 pts · 184d

There are many other treatments still available for diabetes and most people being prescribed these should be like a hair away from type 2 anyway.

deafboy@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 184d

Because fuck fat people. Let them die of a hearth attack. /s