US approves new oral weight-loss pill developed by Eli Lilly | US news
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday gave the green light to a new oral weight-loss drug developed by Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
Known as orforglipron or brand name Foundayo, the once-daily tablet becomes the second GLP-1 drug in pill form to hit the market in a short period of time, after Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill received approval in December.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug that works similarly to widely used injectable treatments by mimicking a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite and feelings of fullness.
“Today, fewer than one in ten people who could benefit from a GLP-1 take one, held back by access, stigma, perceived complexity or the belief that their condition is not serious enough to treat,” David A Ricks, president and CEO of Eli Lilly, said in a statement.
“We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for people who are obese or overweight and living with weight-related complications.”
Patients taking Foundayo are generally expected to start with the lowest dose and gradually increase it to help limit side effects. Unlike the Wegovy pill, which must be taken early in the morning on an empty stomach, this medication can be taken at any time of the day, regardless of meals.
The initial dose is expected to cost about $149 per month for those paying without insurance, such as the Wegovy pill. Higher strengths can reach prices up to $349 per month. It is still unclear to what extent private insurance plans will cover it. However, under a Trump administration proposal, Medicare coverage could begin for some patients as early as this summer, with co-pays potentially as low as $50 per month.
The move comes as the GLP-1 drug category continues to grow, with new treatments offering better weight loss results and, in some cases, reduced costs.
The daily pill will begin shipping Monday through its direct-to-consumer service, LillyDirect, and is expected to appear in pharmacies and telehealth services shortly afterward, according to CNBC.
The availability of this pill could make weight-loss treatment more accessible to large numbers of Americans who have avoided injectable options because of their cost, discomfort with needles or rigid dosing rules. Because orforglipron is taken once a day in pill form, it may be easier for patients to follow their treatment.
The approval follows Lilly’s submission of the drug to the FDA several months ago as part of a program designed to expedite the processing of drugs deemed of national importance. As a result, Foundayo will enter the market approximately three months after Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill, intensifying competition between the two companies in the evolving GLP-1 field.
