Home / Health / Oral Weight-Loss Pill Delivers Promising Results, Awaits NHS Approval
Oral Weight-Loss Pill Delivers Promising Results, Awaits NHS Approval
7 Aug
Summary
- Powerful new weight-loss pill could be approved for NHS use
- Trial found overweight people lost up to 12% of body weight in 18 months
- Oral medication is a cheaper, more convenient alternative to weight-loss injections
In a significant development, a powerful new weight-loss pill is poised to be considered by regulators for potential approval for use within the NHS. According to the article, a clinical trial has found that overweight people taking this medication lost up to almost 2 stone, or 12% of their body weight, after 18 months of use.
The medication, called orforglipron, is being developed by the US firm Lilly. It is a daily tablet that acts as a GLP-1 agonist, mimicking the effects of hormones that make people feel full. This offers a potentially cheaper and more convenient alternative to weight-loss injections, which require refrigeration.
Lilly has stated that it plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by the end of this year. If approved as safe by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will then decide whether the drug is cost-effective for the NHS. Guidance on its potential availability is expected next year.
The study of 3,127 overweight adults found that 60% of those on the highest dose of orforglipron lost at least 10% of their body weight, while 40% shed at least 15%. The medication was also found to provide additional benefits, such as improved cholesterol levels.
