The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised orforglipron, an oral medication, for weight management and type 2 diabetes. This development is considered a significant advancement in obesity treatment.
Dr Simon Cork, Senior Lecturer in Physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, noted that the medication is being authorised for people at lower body weights than other weight loss medications. While full eligibility details are awaited, a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 suggests it will likely be accessible to more individuals.
Orforglipron is also expected to be more affordable than currently available medications, with pill manufacturing generally cheaper than injectables. In the US, where it is already authorised for weight loss, a monthly prescription costs between $149 and $349, significantly less than injectable Wegovy.
While the weight loss achieved with orforglipron may be less than with injectable medications, patients can still anticipate clinically meaningful changes. Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow highlighted its convenience, as it can be taken at any time of day, unlike oral semaglutide which requires fasting.
A recent clinical trial, ATTAIN-MAINTAIN, indicated that patients who initially lost weight with injectable medications could sustain a higher proportion of that loss using orforglipron, offering a potentially more economically viable option for long-term weight management.