Eli Lilly’s daily GLP-1 pill shows strong weight loss results without food restrictions

In the first Phase 3 trial of its once-daily oral GLP-1 pill for obesity, drugmaker Eli Lilly reported that participants lost an average of 12% of their body weight after 72 weeks. The findings, announced Thursday in a company news release, come from a study of more than 3,127 adults who were overweight or obese with at least one weight-related health condition such as hypertension, but without diabetes.According to Lilly, participants taking the highest dose of the experimental pill, called orforglipron, lost an average of 27.3 pounds (12.4%). The results have not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal.Lilly already manufactures several injectable GLP-1 drugs, including Zepbound for obesity and Mounjaro and Trulicity for diabetes, but the company is now among several pharmaceutical firms racing to develop an effective pill form.

Currently, the only GLP-1 pill on the market is approved for diabetes and comes with strict diet restrictions. Lilly says no food or water restrictions are needed with orforglipron, which can be taken at any time of day.

Strong weight loss and heart health benefits

The trial showed that 59.6% of people on the highest dose lost at least 10% of their body weight, while 39.6% lost at least 15%. Lilly also reported that the medication lowered markers of cardiovascular risk, including cholesterol and blood pressure.

Side effects were similar to injectable GLP-1 medications, with gastrointestinal issues being the most common. Nausea, constipation, and diarrhea were reported, with nausea affecting 29–34% of participants, slightly higher than the 25–29% seen in Zepbound trials.

The company is also testing orforglipron in patients with type 2 diabetes and exploring whether the pill could help maintain weight loss after initial treatment with injectables.

Potential role in long-term weight maintenance

Some experts see potential for GLP-1 pills to serve as a follow-up treatment after injectable therapies. “They may not be as effective for maximum weight loss as initial therapy but could be excellent for weight-loss maintenance, which is a different and arguably much more important destination for lasting health benefits,” Dr. Jody Dushay, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and attending physician in endocrinology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, previously told CNN.Eli Lilly says it plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by the end of this year.