Daily weight-loss pill could be the new Ozempic
In trials, people taking the medication orforglipron lost an average of 16lbs in nine months.
Participants, all of whom were obese and had Type 2 diabetes, also saw significant falls in their blood sugar.
The phase III trial paves the way for manufacturers to seek a licence for the drug as a treatment for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
The use of daily pills could transform Britain's weight problem, in which two in three adults are obese or overweight.
Manufacturers Lilly said the once-a-day pill could be launched 'at scale' across the world, if approved by licensing bodies, becoming a convenient option for those who do not like injections.
Some estimates suggest that one in 10 women in the UK is on weight loss jabs, but pills are likely to be seen as far more convenient.
The new study was aimed at measuring the success of the treatment in tackling diabetes but also examined the impact on weight loss.
Those put on the highest dose achieved average weight loss of around 8 per cent (16 lbs) in 40 weeks.
Weight loss had not begun to plateau at the point the trial stopped, meaning longer-term use was likely to be still more powerful, experts said.
Separate trials are examining the impact the drug could have in tackling obesity alone.
Semaglutide trials
Previous trials found average weight loss of 14 per cent for those given injections of semaglutide – the ingredient contained in Wegovy, for weight loss, and Ozempic, a treatment for diabetes over 72 weeks.
Those taking tirzepatide, known as Mounjaro, lost 20 per cent of their body weight over the the same period.
Additional data on the daily pills is due to be published later this year, after which manufacturers will seek licensing approval.
David A Ricks, the chairman and chief executive of Lilly, said: 'As a convenient once-daily pill, orforglipron may provide a new option and, if approved, could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world.'
The trial found the pills had a significant impact on blood sugar.
More than two-thirds taking the highest dose of the drug saw their blood sugar levels fall below a defined threshold for diabetes.
On average, HbA1C fell by an average of 1.3 per cent to 1.6 per cent across doses.
Prof Rachel Batterham, senior vice-president for international medical affairs at Lilly, said: 'Living with Type 2 diabetes can be challenging, especially when daily management involves complex treatment routines.
'Orforglipron could potentially offer a promising new option for the more than 75 per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes who prefer pills over injections.'
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"Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, and tailoring treatment based on individual risk could protect thousands against heart attacks and kidney disease. "These guidelines could go a long way to easing the burden of living with this relentless condition, as well as helping to address inequities in type 2 diabetes treatments and outcomes." Earlier this month, drug maker Eli Lilly would hike up the price of its weight loss jab Mounjaro from September 1, meaning the price of the drug in UK private clinics will almost double. Patients have been scrambling to get their hands.
