Latest news with #KennethCuster
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Initial results show promise for Eli Lilly's new weight loss drug
A new weight loss pill made by Eli Lilly helped people lose a significant amount of weight in a recent study. Taken at the highest dose, orforglipron helped patients lose an average 27.3 pounds, or 12.4% of their body weight, over 72 weeks. Eli Lilly says it plans to apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval by the end of the year to market the drug. If approved, the pill could become a simpler alternative to injectable medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound and Mounjaro, which are used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. Pills are easier to make and "can be manufactured at a significant scale," Kenneth Custer, Eli Lilly's president of cardiometabolic health, told The New York Times. "There are orders of magnitude differences in how many we can support," he said, adding that pills could also help people in countries without access to cold storage needed for injected drugs. Like the injected medications, the new pill belongs to the GLP-1 class of drugs. GLP-1 drugs work by helping people feel full longer and by slowing digestion, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The recent study included 3,127 adults who were randomly assigned to take orforglipron or a placebo. Three different dosages of the drug were evaluated. In addition to weight loss, people taking the drug also saw improvements in cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Side effects were similar to those seen with injectable drugs and included vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and indigestion, The Times said. Earlier this year, Lilly also tested orforglipron in people with type 2 diabetes and found that it lowered blood sugar and led to weight loss similar to Ozempic. The company plans to seek FDA approval to market the drug for diabetes use in 2026, The Times reported. Orforglipron has not yet been compared directly with injected drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound. In a previous study, Zepbound helped people lose 20.2% of their weight, and Wegovy led to a 13.2% weight loss over 72 weeks. Still, experts say the new pill may have key benefits. It may not be as powerful as injections, though, said Dr. David Cummings, an obesity expert at the University of Washington in Seattle. But if it's a lot cheaper and easier to make, Cummings said, then "that feature alone could make it truly impactful." Eli Lilly has not yet said how much the pill will cost, and plans to decide after the FDA reviews it for marketing approval. About 8 million Americans now take obesity medications, even though an estimated 170 million could benefit, according to Custer. He said a major reason is that making injected drugs is expensive and slow, The Times said. Because pills are easier to make and store, this new drug could help reach more people, Custer added. More information Learn more about Eli Lilly's mission. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
UPI
2 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Initial results show promise for Eli Lilly's new weight loss drug
A new weight loss pill made by Eli Lilly helped people lose a significant amount of weight in a recent study. Taken at the highest dose, orforglipron helped patients lose an average 27.3 pounds, or 12.4% of their body weight, over 72 weeks. Eli Lilly says it plans to apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval by the end of the year to market the drug. If approved, the pill could become a simpler alternative to injectable medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound and Mounjaro, which are used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. Pills are easier to make and "can be manufactured at a significant scale," Kenneth Custer, Eli Lilly's president of cardiometabolic health, told The New York Times. "There are orders of magnitude differences in how many we can support," he said, adding that pills could also help people in countries without access to cold storage needed for injected drugs. Like the injected medications, the new pill belongs to the GLP-1 class of drugs. GLP-1 drugs work by helping people feel full longer and by slowing digestion, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The recent study included 3,127 adults who were randomly assigned to take orforglipron or a placebo. Three different dosages of the drug were evaluated. In addition to weight loss, people taking the drug also saw improvements in cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Side effects were similar to those seen with injectable drugs and included vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and indigestion, The Times said. Earlier this year, Lilly also tested orforglipron in people with type 2 diabetes and found that it lowered blood sugar and led to weight loss similar to Ozempic. The company plans to seek FDA approval to market the drug for diabetes use in 2026, The Times reported. Orforglipron has not yet been compared directly with injected drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound. In a previous study, Zepbound helped people lose 20.2% of their weight, and Wegovy led to a 13.2% weight loss over 72 weeks. Still, experts say the new pill may have key benefits. It may not be as powerful as injections, though, said Dr. David Cummings, an obesity expert at the University of Washington in Seattle. But if it's a lot cheaper and easier to make, Cummings said, then "that feature alone could make it truly impactful." Eli Lilly has not yet said how much the pill will cost, and plans to decide after the FDA reviews it for marketing approval. About 8 million Americans now take obesity medications, even though an estimated 170 million could benefit, according to Custer. He said a major reason is that making injected drugs is expensive and slow, The Times said. Because pills are easier to make and store, this new drug could help reach more people, Custer added. More information Learn more about Eli Lilly's mission. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What to know about game-changing new weight-loss pill that could be prescribed on the NHS
Is it more or less effective than weight-loss jabs? A new study found the pill could help shed 12% of body weight. A daily pill that could help people lose a significant amount of weight – without injections – has shown promising early results in a major trial. The drug, called orforglipron, works in a similar way to known weight-loss jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, targeting hormones that regulate appetite and digestion. But instead of a weekly injection, it's taken daily in tablet form. In a study of more than 3,000 adults, those on the highest dose lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks (almost 17 months) – that's nearly two stone for some. The trial also reported improvements in cholesterol, blood pressure and heart health, according to the study. Manufacturer Eli Lilly, the American pharmaceutical company which also created Mounjaro, says it plans to seek regulatory approval by the end of the year. Experts are cautiously optimistic, but stress the results are still preliminary and not yet peer reviewed. Here's what we know about the weight-loss pill so far. How does the weight-loss pill compare to injections? In head-to-head comparisons, injectables still lead on weight loss. Trials show Mounjaro users lose around 20% of their body weight, and Wegovy users about 13–14%. orforglipron's 12.4% average is slightly lower – but experts say its convenience could make it appealing. Kenneth Custer, the president of Eli Lilly, said: "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." In the trial, nearly 60% of people on the top dose lost at least 10% of their body weight, and almost 40% lost 15% or more. What about side effects? The safety profile looks similar to other GLP-1 or weight-loss drugs, like Wegovy and Mounjaro. In the trial, the most common side effects – of which some participants reported more than one – were stomach-related: Nausea: 33.7% Constipation: 25.4% Diarrhoea: 23.1% Vomiting: 24.0% Indigestion: 14.1% Most side effects were mild to moderate, but they were enough to make some people stop treatment. Around one in 10 people on the top dose dropped out because of side effects, compared to about one in forty in the placebo group, those given a dummy pill with no active medicine. "These are preliminary, non-peer-reviewed results and we will need to see the full trial methodology and data before a more comprehensive analysis can be undertaken," Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University told The Times. "It should be noted that their effects on weight loss are not as profound as those seen in injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Wegovy, with a lower percentage weight loss and fewer people achieving 10 per cent weight loss at the highest dose. "Nevertheless, that this medication is an oral form, rather than injectable, will likely be seen as more tolerable for many patients," he added. Who could get the weight-loss pill on the NHS? If approved, orforglipron would likely be prescribed under similar rules to existing weight-loss drugs. Currently, Wegovy is offered to people with a BMI of at least 35 plus a weight-related condition, or a BMI of 30–34.9 if referred to specialist services. Mounjaro is approved for those with a BMI over 30, or 27–30 with health issues such as pre-diabetes or high blood pressure. Any rollout would almost certainly involve combining the pill with the recommended reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, just like the current injections. How much will the weight-loss pills cost? There's no official price tag yet for orforglipron. Eli Lilly hasn't confirmed how much it will sell for if approved, but experts expect it to be cheaper to manufacture than injections like Wegovy or Mounjaro. That could mean a lower cost for the NHS, and potentially make it more accessible for patients if offered privately. Read more about weight loss: Who can get new weight-loss jab Mounjaro on the NHS? (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) Alison Hammond reveals why she is 'frightened' of weight loss medications (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read) Obesity rates may start falling this year due to weight loss jabs, seller says (Sky News, 4-min read)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Daily weight loss pill could help lose 12% of body weight
Image credits: Getty Images Weight loss is a journey that many people step upon; however, struggles arrive in various forms, such as lack of dedication, guidance or resources. People try everything from rigorous exercises to helpful pills just to achieve their desired body shape and weight. While some work and others do not, the trial of a daily obesity pill has shown that it could help patients lose around 12% of their body weight over 72 weeks. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of the pills, says the drug, which is not licensed yet, could be available by next year. Orforglipron, the pill, works by suppressing appetite and making you feel full. Preliminary trials of the drug show that those on the highest dose lost an average of 12 kilos over 16 months. However, about 1 in 10 stopped taking the pills due to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Not only weight loss, participants also experienced a reduction in cholesterol, blood fats and blood pressure. Dr Kenneth Custer of Eli Lilly stated the company was planning to submit the drug for licensing before the end of the year and preparing for a "global launch to address this urgent public health need." But is the pill better than Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic? It's not. The pill helps with 12% of weight loss compared to 22% weight loss for those on Mounjaro, given by weekly injection. Both drugs are made by the parent company Eli Lilly. However, for those looking for needle-free options, the pill could be a bright light. Additionally, obesity experts hope that it will be far cheaper than the injectables, making it more accessible to patients. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Weight loss pill that helped patients shift 12% of body mass may soon be on NHS
A weight-loss tablet, which could be a cheaper and easier alternative to jabs and has seen patients during a trial lose up to almost 2st, could soon be available on the NHS A powerful new generation of weight-loss pill that could provide hope for millions of patients is set to be considered by regulators for NHS approval. A trial found overweight people taking the medication lost up to almost 2st – or 12% of their body weight – after 18 months. The maker, US firm Lilly, said it will seek the go-ahead by regulators for the drug orforglipron. It could be a cheaper and easier alternative to weight-loss jabs, which have to be refrigerated. The daily tablet is a GLP-1 agonist, which can cut appetite. Like jabs, the pill mimics the effects of hormones that make us feel full. Lilly also makes weight-loss jab Mounjaro. It comes after the NHS warned mouth symptom could be life-shortening disease. Kenneth Custer, of Lilly, said: 'We're working to transform obesity care with a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments. 'We are planning to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end.' It will need to be approved as safe by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence decides if it is cost-effective for the NHS. The Mirror understands guidance is expected next year on whether it will be available on the health service. The study found 60% of people on the highest dose of orforglipron lost at least 10% of their body weight. While 40% of people shed at least 15% of their body weight. The study of 3,127 overweight adults also found benefits such as better cholesterol. Lilly said the safety profile of the tablet is similar to other GLP-1 drugs, with gastrointestinal issues the most common side effect. Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: 'These early results on the effectiveness of orforglipron in promoting clinically significant weight loss are a positive step forward in the development of this class of drugs. 'Their effects on weight loss are not as profound as that seen in [jabs]. 'Nevertheless, that this medication is an oral form, rather than injectable, will likely be seen as more tolerable for many. Manufacturing costs are also anticipated to be significantly lower.' An estimated 1.5 million people in the UK use weight-loss medication, most privately. Mounjaro was due to be rolled out across the NHS in England from June 23 for those with the highest clinical need, but a probe found only eight of 42 NHS integrated care boards are providing it at present. Nearly half of boards say they will cap the number they treat due to lack of funding. NHS England says the plan is for jabs to bemore widely available. Figures suggest about 29% of adults are obese. Another new study has found GLP-1s may have other benefits such as improving Alzheimer's and liver disease.
