New Weight-Loss Pill Could Help Solve a Major Problem With GLP-1 Drugs
ScienceAlert • • health
Key Points:
- Around 1.6 million adults in Great Britain used weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro in the past year, mostly through private purchase, but these injections are costly and weight is often regained after stopping them.
- These drugs are expensive due to their peptide composition requiring injections, costly injector pens, and refrigeration, making ongoing treatment unaffordable for many patients.
- Orforglipron (Foundayo), a newly FDA-approved once-daily pill targeting the same GLP-1 system, is cheaper to produce and store, potentially improving access to effective obesity treatment.
- Clinical trials show orforglipron achieves over 15% body weight loss, comparable to Wegovy but less than Mounjaro, and may help maintain weight loss better after stopping initial injectable drugs.
- A recent trial found patients switching from Wegovy or Mounjaro to orforglipron regained significantly less weight and maintained health improvements, suggesting a promising, more affordable long-term treatment option expected in the UK by 2026-2027.