Featured Image Credit: Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images
Topics: Health, Mental Health
Ellie Kemp
A doctor has warned of the potential dangers of a 'game changing' diabetes drug which could rival the likes of Ozempic.
The medication - and similar drugs - have been catapulted into the heart of pop culture in recent months. That's to say, pretty much any celebrity who has lost weight has been accused of taking it.
Ozempic is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while other similar medications have been signed off to battle weight-loss - including semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda).
These drugs are all within the GLP-1 receptor agonist family, which help regulate blood sugar and control appetite.
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They're injected once weekly, but can come with some unpleasant side effects.
Now, a potential 'game changer' has been discovered - in the form of a weight loss pill.
Pharma giant Eli Lilly is currently trialing Orforglipron, a GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet, taken orally once a day.
The results from medical trials have, thus far, yielded some incredible results.
In a 40-week trial, Orforglipron was found to have lowered peoples' A1C - a key blood sugar marker - by up to 1.6 percent.
Two-thirds of people on the highest dose, 36 milligrams, ended up with blood sugar levels below the diabetes threshold.
Researchers also found participants who took the highest dose lost an average of eight percent of their body weight - around 16 pounds.
It's still being trialed at the moment, but Lilly is aiming for FDA approval to sell the pill for weight loss purposes later this year, and for diabetes by 2026.
Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor has experienced first-hand the growing interest in GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Mounjaro (Tirzepatide).
And while she describes the emergence of Orforglipron as 'potentially quite significant', Dr Wylie also warns of a two major of dangers to be aware of.
While a pill is undoubtably more accessible - and more appealing - particularly to those who are afraid of needles, its form also raises some concerns.
"If the medication becomes widely known and popular, particularly for cosmetic weight loss rather than medical need, it could drive demand on the black market – much as we’ve seen with semaglutide," Wylie tells UNILAD.
She adds: "Pills are typically easier to counterfeit than injectable medications, which poses a real danger.
"Unregulated versions might contain incorrect dosages or harmful substances, and patients could be lulled into a false sense of security because it’s 'just a pill.''
Not only that, but Orforglipron could still come with similar side effects to other GLP-1 agonists. So, if you're a current semaglutide user and are hoping a daily pill might give you all the benefits, with zero side effects, you might be disappointed.
"While the appeal of a daily pill over a weekly injection is obvious, we mustn’t forget that Orforglipron belongs to the same drug class as Ozempic and Mounjaro," Dr Wylie says.
"It's likely to carry many of the same risks and side effects. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation are common issues with GLP-1 agonists."
While believing Orforglipron could potentially be a 'game changer,' Dr Wylie cautions: "It’s vital we await full trial data before drawing conclusions.
"Safety, long-term effects, and appropriate prescribing must remain our top priorities - particularly when medications designed for chronic conditions are increasingly sought after for short-term or aesthetic purposes."
UNILAD has contacted Eli Lilly for comment.