Study: Orforglipron Maintains Weight Loss After GLP-1 Shots

A new study has found that a daily weight-loss pill called orforglipron enables patients to maintain most of the weight they lost from popular injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, even after stopping the shots. Researchers presented the results at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul and published them in the journal Nature Medicine.

The trial involved 376 participants in the United States who had already lost significant weight over 72 weeks using injectable GLP-1 drugs tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, or semaglutide, sold as Wegovy. Participants then switched to either daily orforglipron tablets or a placebo for one year in a double-blind setup. Those previously on tirzepatide retained an average 74.7 percent of their weight loss with orforglipron, compared to 49.2 percent on placebo. Former semaglutide users kept 79.3 percent versus 37.6 percent on placebo. Improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels from the injections also persisted with the pill.

The drug, developed by Eli Lilly, mimics the GLP-1 hormone to curb appetite, slow digestion and lower blood sugar. Unlike peptide-based injections, which require refrigeration and weekly...