New Oral Drug Orforglipron Prevents Weight Regain After Stopping GLP-1 Injections
A recent study published in Nature Medicine, funded by pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, suggests that a new daily oral medication, orforglipron, can substantially reduce weight regain in individuals who have ceased GLP-1 injectable treatments.
The drug, already accessible in the United States, is currently under consideration for market release in the UK. Trials revealed that participants administered orforglipron daily for a year sustained more than 70% of their initial weight loss. This contrasts sharply with the placebo group, who retained between 38-50% of their weight reduction, highlighting a common challenge of weight rebound post-GLP-1 injection cessation.
Orforglipron operates by mimicking a natural hormone, thereby diminishing appetite and fostering prolonged satiety, a mechanism akin to that of existing GLP-1 jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy. While the US pricing for orforglipron is approximately $149 per month, considerably less than some injectable alternatives costing over $1,000 monthly, its potential UK cost remains undisclosed.
Dr Simon Cork of Anglia Ruskin University characterised the research as a “really important study” for addressing the substantial weight rebound associated with stopping injectable GLP-1 medications. He further noted that the maintenance of reduced blood pressure, lipids, and blood glucose levels in patients taking the oral medication could mitigate long-term health risks linked to obesity, such as cardiovascular disease.
Side effects reported during the study were generally mild, including nausea, constipation, or diarrhoea. Further research is deemed necessary to ascertain the optimal duration of treatment, which experts suggest could potentially be lifelong. This reinforces the evolving understanding of obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition frequently necessitating continuous therapeutic intervention.
