Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 pill could reach UK as soon as next year, trials show average 12.4% weight loss

Britain could be among the first countries to see a once-daily oral treatment for obesity if regulators approve orforglipron, an Eli Lilly pill that in late-stage trials produced an average 12.4% weight loss, company executives said.

Patrik Jonsson, chief executive of Eli Lilly, told reporters the drug could be available as early as next year if it secures regulatory approval, and the company is planning submissions by the end of the year. Eli Lilly says the tablet targets the same glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors as widely used injectable treatments such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro and could appeal to people who prefer not to self-inject.

The largest trial reported last month enrolled 3,127 adults who were obese or overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition and who did not have diabetes. Participants were followed for 72 weeks and the average weight reduction among those taking orforglipron was 12.4 percent. Lilly said the pill can be stored at room temperature and taken at any time of day, with or without food, which the company argues will make it easier to produce, transport and use than injectable therapies.

Company executives cautioned that side effects were similar to those seen with injectable GLP-1s. About one in four trial participants experienced diarrhoea and roughly one in six reported nausea. There were also reports of pancreatitis among some users. Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said the company will include safety data in regulatory submissions and is preparing for a global launch if approvals are granted.

"Obesity is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, driving global chronic disease burden and impacting more than one billion people worldwide," Custer said, adding that an oral option could support earlier intervention and long-term disease management while offering a convenient alternative to injections.

Jonsson said Lilly is also researching longer-term solutions and has set its sights on an aspirational "once-and-done" approach to obesity treatment, though he acknowledged such a therapy remains years away.

Analysts and industry forecasters have projected a large commercial opportunity for oral GLP-1 drugs. The pill has been described by some market estimates as potentially generating up to $100 billion in sales by 2030, reflecting strong demand for effective obesity treatments and the limitations of current options.

The development comes amid heightened public and policy attention on GLP-1 medicines. Injectable GLP-1s have transformed weight management for many patients but have also prompted concerns over cost, supply and off-label use. In recent weeks Eli Lilly scaled back plans to raise the list price of its diabetes and weight-loss injection Mounjaro after negotiating commercial arrangements with pharmacists and private providers. Under those arrangements the top dose was set to rise to £247.50, nearly £100 less than the company’s proposed new list price, with smaller discounts for lower strengths, Lilly said.

Demand surges for injectable GLP-1s have led some people to stockpile supplies amid price changes and limited availability through some providers. Public-health officials and clinicians have warned that these medicines should be used under medical supervision because of potential side effects and the need to assess underlying causes of weight gain.

If regulators clear orforglipron, clinicians and health systems will weigh the drug’s efficacy and safety profile against established injectable GLP-1 agents. Regulators typically review cardiovascular safety, gastrointestinal tolerability, potential risks such as pancreatitis, and longer-term outcomes in their assessments.

Eli Lilly said it had not yet set a final price for orforglipron. Company representatives noted that oral formulations are generally less expensive to produce and distribute than injectables, which could affect pricing and access if the drug reaches the market.

Health authorities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere will consider trial data, manufacturing standards and post‑market surveillance plans before deciding on approvals. For patients and clinicians, the prospect of a pill that can be taken at home without refrigeration or injection could change prescribing patterns, but experts say wider adoption will depend on regulatory decisions, reimbursement policies and longer-term safety data.