A new daily pill designed to help people maintain weight loss after using popular slimming injections could soon transform the growing weight loss treatment market.
Researchers say the medication may help solve one of the biggest long-term challenges faced by people who lose weight: keeping it off.
Scientists Testing Alternative to Weight Loss Injections
The experimental pill, called orforglipron, is being developed by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind the widely used weight loss drug Mounjaro.
Like existing GLP-1 medications, the pill works by helping people feel fuller for longer and reducing appetite signals often referred to as “food noise.”
However, unlike medications such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, the treatment is taken orally instead of through injections.
Researchers believe this could make long-term treatment easier and more appealing for many patients who dislike regular injections or struggle with the cost and inconvenience of storing them.
Study Suggests Better Long-Term Weight Maintenance
According to findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity, people who switched from injections to the daily pill were significantly more likely to maintain their weight loss over time.
Researchers said participants kept off up to 80 percent of their weight loss after transitioning to the tablets.
The study also found patients were reportedly seven times more likely to maintain weight loss for at least a year compared to stopping treatment altogether.
Health experts say maintaining weight loss is often more difficult than losing it initially because appetite and cravings frequently return once treatment or strict dieting ends.
Patient Says Pill “Shut Out Food Noise”
One participant testing the medication, Sharon Vickers from South Carolina, said the pills dramatically reduced her urge to snack.
“At day five of taking the pills, it shut out food noise completely,” she explained.
Vickers said she no longer constantly thinks about food throughout the day and has experienced increased energy levels while continuing to exercise regularly.
She also reported losing weight without major side effects during the early stages of treatment.
Experts Say Convenience Could Be Key
Medical researchers say many people may prefer a tablet over injections for practical reasons, especially if long-term use becomes necessary.
Dr. Marie Spreckley of the University of Cambridge noted that some patients do not want to remain on injectable medications indefinitely due to travel concerns, treatment burden, storage issues, or personal preference.
While the pill is still undergoing clinical testing and has not yet fully replaced injectable options, experts believe oral GLP-1 medications could become a major part of future obesity treatment plans.
As demand for weight loss medications continues rising worldwide, pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop easier, cheaper, and more sustainable options for long-term weight management.
