Britain could be one of the first countries in the world to have a fat-busting once-a-day pill in what is being billed as a ‘game-changer’ for weight loss.
Patrik Jonsson, the head of pharmaceutical behemoth Eli Lilly, said he expects orforgilpron to be available as early as next year, if approved by regulators.
The wonder drug could make it even easier for millions of Britons to shed the pounds who currently inject themselves every week with weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
The tablet could be worth as much as $100 billion to the industry by 2030 with clinical trials announced last month showing orforgilpron lowered weight by an average of 12.4 per cent.
Mr Jonsson has even bigger things planned in the fight against obesity with his firm eyeing up a ‘once-and-done treatment’ which means people would never have to take fat jabs again.
Although admitting that ‘dream’ is years away, he said: ‘If we could be the ones that bring a once-and-done to treating obesity, that would be a huge contribution to humanity.’
Orforgilpron works by targeting the same GLP-1 receptors as Blockbuster weight-loss jabs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which suppress appetite and make users fill fuller for longer.
Lilly has not yet decided how much the drug will cost but it is easier to produce and transport that injections so is likely to be a cheaper option.
The pill can be stored at room temperature and taken at any time of day, with or without food.
Britain could be one of the first countries in the world to have a fat-busting once-a-day pill that could be a ‘game-changer’ for weight loss (file image)
Wonder drug orforgilpron could make it even easier for millions of Britons to shed the pounds who currently inject themselves every week with weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic (file image)
It is seen as a new tool in the nation’s fight against obesity and is likely to appeal to a wider audience who are uncomfortable with injecting themselves.
The most recent study involved 3,127 adults and measured their weight loss over a 72 weeks.
The participants were either obese or overweight with a weight-related medical problem and without diabetes.
However, side effects on the tablet were similar to the weight-loss injections, with about one in four people experiencing diarrhoea and one in six suffering nausea.
Others have also experienced pancreatitis.
Speaking last month, Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health said: ‘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.
‘With orforglipron, we’re working to transform obesity care by introducing a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments.
‘With these positive data in hand, we are now planning to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end and are prepared for a global launch to address this urgent public health need.’
Last week, Eli Lilly scaled back on plans to hike the cost of Mounjaro after the company struck deals with pharmacists and private providers to keep prices lower.
Last week, Eli Lilly scaled back on plans to hike the cost of Mounjaro after the company struck deals with pharmacists and private providers to keep prices lower
Under these arrangements, the top dose will rise to £247.50—almost £100 less than the new list price—with smaller discounts applied to lower strengths.
In a statement, Lilly said: ‘We are working with private providers on commercial arrangements to maintain affordability and expect these to be passed onto patients when the change is effective on 1 September.
‘We are already seeing providers respond in different ways to the list price change, with a range of options available for eligible patients.’
The move comes as slimmers have rushed to stockpile months worth of Mounjaro after panic grew over its soaring cost.
