Interested in weight loss injections but would prefer to take a tablet? Well, Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro, is currently developing a new weight loss pill called orforglipron.
Because it’s still being investigated in clinical trials, orforglipron is not yet approved in the UK—which means that a clinician can’t prescribe it to you. But from the results we have so far, it seems to work well and be safe for most people to take.
Here’s what you need to know about orforglipron, Eli Lilly’s new weight loss drug.
Key Takeaways
- What it is: Lilly’s once-daily oral GLP-1 pill for weight management
- Effectiveness: About 12.4% average weight loss at 72 weeks on the highest dose
- Beyond weight: Studies suggest better blood sugar control plus improved blood pressure and cholesterol markers
- Side effects: Mostly mild to moderate gut symptoms like nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, indigestion.
- UK availability: Not yet approved in the UK. Lilly plans regulatory submissions from late 2025 into 2026.
How does orforglipron work for weight loss?
Like Saxenda and Wegovy weight loss injections, orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means it mimics the action of a natural hormone called GLP-1, which helps reduce hunger, curb cravings, and promote a feeling of fullness after eating.
But unlike Saxenda and Wegovy, which use peptide-based ingredients (liraglutide and semaglutide), orforglipron is a non-peptide molecule. Its structure allows it to be taken orally, once a day.
And it appears to work well. In a phase III trial, people taking the highest dose (36mg) of orforglipron for 72 weeks lost up to 12.4% of their starting weight on average.
FYI: Ozempic is a GLP-1 medication, too—it’s the same medicine as Wegovy. Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes (though it is sometimes used off-label for weight loss) while Wegovy is approved for weight loss.
Other potential health benefits
Orforglipron is showing benefits beyond weight loss. In ATTAIN-1, 91% of people who started with prediabetes had near-normal blood sugar by week 72, compared with 42% on placebo. That matters because getting blood sugar back on track now can lower the chance of developing type 2 diabetes later.
The study also points to wider heart-health benefits. People taking orforglipron saw improvements in blood fats, including non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and there was a reduction in blood pressure. In everyday terms, that means a healthier cholesterol pattern and lower readings on the cuff, both of which support long-term heart health.
Researchers also looked at hsCRP, a marker of inflammation. At the highest dose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) fell by 47.7% in an exploratory analysis. Lower inflammation is generally a good sign for overall health. These findings are early and will need to be confirmed in peer-reviewed papers, but the direction of travel is encouraging.
Orforglipron side effects: what we know so far
The latest results from the ATTAIN-1 trial show orforglipron side effects were mostly mild or moderate and related to the gut.
The symptoms most commonly reported were:
- Diarrhoea (affecting 21-23% of people)
- Nausea (29-34%)
- Indigestion (10-15%)
- Constipation (22-25%)
- Vomiting (13-24%)
Research has noted that orforglipron may cause fewer gut-related side effects than Mounjaro, a medicine that works by acting like GLP-1 and another hormone called GIP (that makes it a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist). FYI: this dual action is what makes Mounjaro so potent—in clinical research, it’s shown the most weight loss out of the medicines that are currently available.
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
Orforglipron vs other GLP-1 medications
So how does this new GLP-1 tablet stack up against GLP-1 injections?
The results for orforglipron are promising.
In a phase III trial, people lost up to 12.4% of their body weight after 72 weeks. That’s slightly lower than the 17.5% seen with Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg) over the same period, and below the 20.7% reported in newer trials using a higher 7.2mg dose. Other GLP-1 treatments like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have also shown significant weight loss results in trials, with up to 22.5% over 72 weeks.
Orforglipron also appears to outperform Saxenda (liraglutide), which showed an average 7.4% weight loss after one year.
Where orforglipron could stand out is convenience and cost. Unlike injections, it’s taken orally once a day, which may appeal to people who are hesitant about needles.
Tablets are generally cheaper to manufacture than injectable medications, so orforglipron might be priced more affordably once approved, potentially making advanced weight-loss treatment more accessible in the UK and globally.
Orforglipron vs other weight loss pills
What about GLP-1 pills vs currently available weight loss tablets? Well, orlistat is the only one that’s approved in the UK. It works by reducing the amount of fat your gut absorbs from food, so you take in less calories.
Orforglipron appears to be more effective than orlistat weight loss pills. About one in five people on orlistat will lose at least 10% of their starting weight after a year.
When is orforglipron expected to be available?
There’s no official release date yet, but orforglipron could be available in the UK as early as 2026. Eli Lilly has confirmed plans to submit it for regulatory approval by the end of 2025, following the completion of ongoing phase III trials.
Your weight loss journey
Oforglipron weight loss pills certainly seem promising, but it’ll be a while before you can try them. Yet there are a bunch of weight loss medications you can get started with right now, that are backed by science and show great results.
Through our weight loss programme, you can get Mounjaro, Wegovy, or Saxenda weight loss injections posted to you each month. We’ve also got the oral medication orlistat. And our team of coaches and clinicians will work with you to transform your lifestyle, cheering you on at every step.
We’re so excited for you to reach your health goals—and we know you can do it.
See if you’re eligible for the programme by taking our short quiz. Our clinicians will review and come back to you asap.
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