A daily tablet called orforglipron is outperforming the current best oral option for weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. In a year-long trial of over 1,500 adults across Argentina, China, Japan, Mexico and the US, patients taking orforglipron lost 6–8% of their body weight, compared with 4–5% for those on oral semaglutide (Rybelsus). They also achieved lower average blood sugar levels.
Made by Eli Lilly, orforglipron works the same way as existing GLP-1 drugs — it slows digestion, suppresses appetite and lowers blood sugar. The key difference: you don't need to take it on an empty stomach, which makes it simpler for daily life. The US Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing it; it's not yet approved in the UK, US or Europe.
Why this matters now. Injectable GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro have proven more effective for weight loss than pills, but they're inconvenient for many people — you need to inject yourself weekly, store them carefully, and they cost more. A pill that works nearly as well as injections could change access for millions. "The more effective oral medicines we have, the better," says Professor Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow, who notes these drugs could become first-line treatments for type 2 diabetes within a decade.
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Start Your News DetoxThere's a catch. About 9–10% of people taking orforglipron stopped the drug because of side effects — mainly gastrointestinal issues like nausea or stomach upset — compared with 4–5% in the semaglutide group. That's a meaningful difference when you're trying to stick with treatment long-term. Dr Marie Spreckley of Cambridge's epidemiology unit flags another concern: the trial only lasted a year, so we don't yet know about longer-term safety or whether weight loss stays off.
Experts also emphasize that a pill alone isn't the full picture. The most effective approach combines weight loss with blood sugar control and cardiovascular protection — something these drugs can do, but only as part of a broader strategy.
Orforglipron still needs regulatory approval, but if it reaches the market, tablet versions could be transformative simply because they're easier to use and store than injections, and likely cheaper too.
