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Daily pill to help keep weight off after stopping obesity jabs
Researchers report that orforglipron, taken daily after stopping GLP-1 weight-loss injections, helped people maintain a large portion of their weight loss. In a US trial with 376 participants, those on the pill kept more than 70% of their weight off after a year, compared with 38-50% for placebo. The study was funded by Eli Lilly and published in Nature Medicine; the pill is already available in the US and could launch in the UK, with price details currently uncertain.
Why It Matters
The findings suggest a potential shift from injections to an oral therapy for long-term obesity management, with implications for treatment accessibility and the chronic-disease framing of obesity.
Timeline
5 Events
Expert commentary on implications and durability
May 12, 2026
Experts say the study addresses a key limitation of injectable GLP-1 medications by reducing weight rebound after stopping treatment. They note the need for longer-term data on durability and that obesity should be treated as a chronic disease requiring ongoing treatment and support. They also point out that decreases in blood pressure, lipids and blood glucose were maintained in those taking the oral therapy.
UK launch and cost considerations
May 12, 2026
The tablet could soon launch in the United Kingdom, but its price in the UK is not yet known as it has not yet been released to the market. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy oral version has US approval and a UK decision pending.
Availability and price of orforglipron in the United States
May 12, 2026
In the United States, orforglipron is already available, priced around $149 per month for the lowest dose, cheaper than some GLP-1 injections that can exceed $1,000 per month. US President Donald Trump has announced deals to lower the cost of popular weight‑loss drugs.
Trial design details: blind, placebo-controlled study after stopping GLP-1 jabs
May 12, 2026
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either orforglipron or a placebo for one year. They were not told which they were taking, making the study double-blind.
Nature Medicine study reports oral orforglipron helps maintain weight loss after stopping GLP-1 jabs
May 12, 2026
A study published in Nature Medicine found that taking orforglipron daily for a year after stopping GLP-1 weight‑loss injections helped participants keep more than 70% of their earlier weight loss, compared with around 38-50% retained by those given a placebo. The trial involved 376 US participants who had been on tirzepatide (Mounjaro) or semaglutide (Wegovy) for more than a year and had lost weight.