Camilla Jessen
Forget the needle.
A revolution in weight loss treatment may soon be on the way — and it doesn’t involve a needle.
Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical giant behind some of today’s most powerful diabetes and obesity medications, is now developing a pill called orforglipron.
Early results suggest it could compete with — or even outperform — injectables like Wegovy and Ozempic, which have skyrocketed in popularity for their dramatic effects on weight loss.
The big difference? This one comes in pill form.
What Is Orforglipron?
Like Wegovy and Ozempic, orforglipron belongs to a class of medications that mimic the body’s GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. But unlike those drugs, which require weekly injections, orforglipron is a pill that can be taken daily.
In clinical trials, some participants lost up to 14.7% of their body weight in less than a year — a result that matches or even exceeds some of the leading injectable drugs.
Besides avoiding the needle, orforglipron has several major advantages:
- No need for cold storage (unlike most injectables)
- No syringes or injection pens
- Daily oral dosing — simple and discreet
- Lower production costs possible, thanks to its chemical structure
That last point could be especially important. With prices for current weight loss injectables remaining high, a pill alternative that’s easier and cheaper to produce could open up access to millions more people.
Fierce Competition in a Booming Market
The global race for effective weight loss drugs has never been more intense. While companies like Pfizer have paused development of their own pills due to side effects, others — including Roche and Septerna — are still in the game, hoping to deliver the next breakthrough.
But Eli Lilly may be leading the pack. The company is aiming to have orforglipron approved for obesity by the end of 2025, and for type 2 diabetes treatment by 2026.
If it hits those targets, the drug could reshape the market, just as Ozempic and Wegovy did before it — and possibly even make effective weight loss treatment more practical and affordable for everyday use.
A Treatment That Fits Into Real Life
For many people, managing obesity isn’t just about willpower or diet plans — it’s about having access to tools that work. And orforglipron could offer something that existing options don’t: powerful results, without needles or hassle.
That combination might be exactly what’s needed to help more people feel confident enough to start — and stick with — a treatment plan.
As one industry expert told Nyheder24, “The future of weight loss treatment is moving fast. And it looks like it’s headed toward something much simpler.”