Daily pill to help keep weight off after stopping obesity jabs

"Trials found that patients given the tablet, called orforglipron, every day for a year avoided regaining much of the weight they had lost - a known risk when coming off GLP-1 injections. The study in the journal Nature Medicine was funded by the manufacturer Eli Lilly, which also makes the weight loss jab Mounjaro. More research is needed to find out how long someone might need to stay on treatment - it might even be life-long, say experts."

"Orforglipron works similarly to obesity jabs, by mimicking a natural hormone that reduces appetite and makes you feel more full for longer. In the US, where it is available, the price is cheaper than current injectables, at around $149 per month for the lowest dose, compared with over $1,000 a month for some GLP-1 injections (although US President Donald Trump has announced deals that aim to lower the cost of popular weight-loss drugs)."

"Swallowing a pill might be more attractive to patients than having to inject themselves, says Dr Marie Spreckley, an expert in weight management research at the UK's University of Cambridge who was not involved in the study. But she adds: "We still do not know how durable these effects will be over longer periods of time. "This study reinforces the growing recognition that obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease that often requires ongoing treatment and support.""

Orforglipron is an oral daily pill that mimics a natural hormone to reduce appetite and increase fullness. Trials in the US tested the tablet in people who had previously used GLP-1 injections such as tirzepatide or semaglutide for more than a year and had lost weight successfully. After a year on the daily pill, participants avoided regaining much of the weight they had lost, addressing a common risk when stopping GLP-1 injections. The drug is already available in the US and may launch in the UK. Longer-term durability and how long treatment must continue remain uncertain, with some experts suggesting treatment could be ongoing. Pricing in the US is lower than many injectable options, but UK cost is not yet known.

Read at www.bbc.com