Rhiannon Ingle
The pharmaceutical industry is about to see some major changes as it prepares to launch oral versions of GLP-1 medications, which could totally transform how these drugs are administered.
Firstly, it's important to note that Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer behind Ozempic and Wegovy, has highlighted that Ozempic is primarily meant for adults with type 2 diabetes rather than those looking to lose weight, while Wegovy and Mounjaro (the brand name for tirzepatide from Eli Lilly) can be prescribed by the NHS for weight loss.
The current version of Ozempic requires regular injections, typically administered weekly, but the new version, dubbed 'Ozempic 2.0' on social media, is a once-daily pill that can be taken orally, with no food or drink restrictions.
Eli Lilly announced plans in September for Orforglipron, a daily oral medication that can be taken without dietary restrictions and scaled for global distribution. Early trials showed an average weight reduction of 10.5 percent versus 2 percent for placebo groups. In head-to-head comparisons, Orforglipron achieved 9.2 percent weight loss compared to 5.3 percent for Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide, according to The Washington Post.
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Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly plan to launch daily weight-loss pills pending FDA approval, potentially by next year.
These oral medications eliminate refrigeration requirements, cutting distribution expenses. The pills themselves are expected to be more affordable, with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill likely reaching patients first, following anticipated regulatory approval by year-end for an early 2026 rollout.
Clinical trials indicate oral medications may deliver modest results compared to injections. Over one year, pill users lost approximately 11-14 percent of body weight, while those using injectable formulations achieved 15-20 percent weight reduction.
Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, said that a new drug from Eli Lilly, which may target three hormones which cue the brain to stop eating, could be 'a better compound', resulting in fewer side effects such as less loss of lean muscle and fewer stomach-related side effects.
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Eli Lilly Chief Scientific Officer Dan Skovronsky said of their upcoming pill: "For the majority of patients, this could be the main medicine that they need to control their type 2 diabetes as well as their obesity."
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told the LADbible Media Group: "We are working closely with the FDA to ensure we can bring Wegovy® in a pill (oral semaglutide), the first oral GLP-1 RA for obesity, to the US early next year. In addition, in September 2025, Novo Nordisk submitted oral semaglutide 25 mg to the EMA. Pending approval, Novo Nordisk is considering launching oral semaglutide 25 mg in select EU markets."
The LADbible Media Group has previously reached out to Eli Lilly for further comment.