How orforglipron works, who it may be suitable for, and what we know so far.
What is it: Orforglipron is a new oral medication currently being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of obesity.
Availability: Orforglipron isn't currently available for weight loss patients in the UK.
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Orforglipron is a new, once-daily oral GLP-1 medicine being studied for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, with clinical trials, to date, showing promising results.1
Like semaglutide (Wegovy), it mimics the gut hormone GLP-1 to reduce appetite and help you feel fuller, but it’s designed as a tablet rather than an injection.
In the large ATTAIN-1 phase 3 clinical trial, which included over 3,000 adults with obesity or considered overweight, people taking the highest dose experienced an average weight loss of 12.4% (around 12 kg) over 72 weeks, compared with less than 1% with placebo.2
The results were broadly consistent across doses, and many people achieved substantial weight loss, with almost 6 in 10 losing at least 10% of their body weight, and around 4 in 10 losing 15% or more on the highest dose.2
Researchers also saw improvements in markers linked to heart health, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure, as well as lower levels of inflammation.2 As with other GLP-1 medicines, side effects varied between individuals.
Orforglipron isn’t available in the UK yet. It’s still being studied in large clinical trials for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, with more results expected in early 2026. While the company, Eli Lilly, has started the approval process in the US, it hasn’t yet been approved there or in the UK.3
Before it can be prescribed here, it will need to be reviewed by the UK medicines regulator. That process takes time. Based on current information, the earliest it could become available in the UK would be late 2026, although timelines are uncertain. For now, the only way to access orforglipron is by taking part in a clinical trial.
In the best, albeit limited, head-to-head data we have so far, orforglipron has shown greater reductions in both blood sugar and weight than oral semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes. In Lilly’s 52-week ACHIEVE-3 trial (adults on metformin), the highest dose of orforglipron reduced HbA1c by ~2.2% vs ~1.4% with oral semaglutide, and people lost ~9.2% of body weight (about 8.9kg) vs ~5.3% (about 5kg) on oral semaglutide.4
Compared with injectable weight loss medicines, available data suggests a different efficacy profile. The leading injections (like Wegovy and Mounjaro) tend to deliver larger average weight loss in obesity studies, but one potential advantage of orfoglipron is that it’s a once-daily pill, which could make treatment easier for some people if it’s approved and widely available.5
Numan does not currently prescribe orfoglipron, and it is not available through our services. Although orforglipron isn’t available in the UK yet, you don’t have to put your weight loss journey on pause. If you’re looking for structured, clinically-led support now, Numan’s Weight Loss Programme helps you build momentum with treatments that are already available and proven.
That includes tailored plans using licensed and approved weight loss medications alongside coaching to help you manage side effects, stay consistent, and keep your results moving in the right direction. If new treatment becomes available in the future, you’ll be in a stronger position to discuss next step with your clinician.
Dutta D, Nagendra L, Anne B, Kumar M, Sharma M, Kamrul-Hasan ABM. Orforglipron, a novel non-peptide oral daily glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist as an anti-obesity medicine: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Sci Pract. 2024;10(2):e743.
Lilly’s oral GLP-1, orforglipron, demonstrated statistically significant efficacy results and a safety profile consistent with injectable GLP-1 medicines in successful Phase 3 trial. Eli Lilly and Company. [accessed 20 Jan 2026] Available from: https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-oral-glp-1-orforglipron-demonstrated-statistically
What to know about orforglipron: An investigational oral GLP-1. Lilly.com. 2025. [accessed 20 Jan 2026] Available from: https://www.lilly.com/news/stories/what-to-know-about-orforglipron
Lilly’s oral GLP-1, orforglipron, superior to oral semaglutide in head-to-head trial. Lilly.com. 2025. [accessed 20 Jan 2026] Available from: https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-oral-glp-1-orforglipron-superior-oral-semaglutide-head
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