Media release

From: The Lancet

The Lancet: Weight-loss pill effective and safe for adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, finds phase 3 trialAdults with obesity and type 2 diabetes who took a once-daily weight loss pill in addition to lifestyle changes for approximately 16 months had a higher reduction in body weight than those who received a placebo, finds a trial published in The Lancet journal.

Current injectable treatments for weight loss and blood sugar control in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes are effective but require cold storage and can result in pain from the injection. Current pills used for weight loss require food and water restrictions when taken. There is a need to offer papers more convenient options.

In this study, over 1,500 adults from 136 sites across 10 countries with a BMI of 27kg/m2 or above and type 2 diabetes were randomised to receive a daily pill of orforglipron, a type of GLP-1 receptor agonist, at doses of either 6 mg, 12 mg, or 36 mg, or a placebo, as well as recommended lifestyle changes.

After approximately 16 months, all patients on average had some reduction in weight and blood glucose levels, with significantly higher weight loss and blood glucose level change for people taking orforglipron compared to placebo. Adverse events were similar to those observed with other GLP-1 medications and were mostly nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhoea.

This study follows the publication of a trial looking at orforglipron for people with obesity without diabetes^*. Authors say further trials are needed to directly compare the orforgilpron pill with other approved medications for weight management, but highlight that as orforglipron is simple to administer, with no restrictions on food and water intake or required refrigeration, it potentially offers a more convenient option and broader global access to weight-loss medication.