🚨 BREAKING: New Obesity Pill Data From Lilly and Novo!

Original posted at obesity.news/ on Sep 17, 2025

For years we have been injecting our way into the GLP-1 weight loss revolution. By the end of this year we could see the first obesity pills on pharmacy shelves, and the two candidates presented major data today.

Novo Nordisk: Wegovy in a Pill (Oral Semaglutide 25 mg)

Novo is not new to oral GLP-1s. They already sell semaglutide tablets under the brand name Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes. The new pill is different because it is a higher-dose formulation meant specifically for weight loss. It will be brought to market as the Wegovy Pill.

The mechanism is the same. Semaglutide is a peptide and because peptides are poorly absorbed in the gut, Novo pairs it with an absorption enhancer called SNAC. That is why the pill comes with strict “empty stomach” rules. You take it first thing in the morning with a small sip of water and wait before eating or drinking anything else.

The OASIS 4 trial proved this formulation works. Patients lost 16.6% of their body weight at 64 weeks and one in three lost at least 20% . Side effects were consistent with injectable Wegovy, mostly nausea and vomiting that was usually mild to moderate .

Novo filed its application with the FDA back in February and a decision is expected before the end of the year . They have already started U.S. manufacturing which means supply could be ready immediately if approval comes through.

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Lilly: Orforglipron

Orforglipron is a completely different type of drug. Unlike semaglutide it is not a peptide. It is a small molecule. That means there is no need for absorption enhancers like SNAC and no food timing rules. It can be taken at any time of the day.

In the Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial, the highest dose delivered 12.4% average weight loss at 72 weeks . Nearly 40% of patients lost at least 15%. Beyond weight loss it also improved cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides, and markers of inflammation .

There are still questions. Unlike its all of its GLP-1 counterparts, orforglipron is metabolized in the liver. While Lilly says no hepatic safety signal was observed in ATTAIN-1, at least none that were attributed to the drug, it remains something to keep an eye on, especially given Pfizer’s abandonment of their own small-molecule GLP-1 danuglipron over liver signals.

Lilly has confirmed it will seek regulatory approval for weight loss this year with a diabetes filing in 2026 . Their leadership has also downplayed the idea of using a shortcut. Patrik Jonsson, Lilly’s president of international operations, told Reuters: “There is very little knowledge about this national priority voucher today. I would not assume we will submit with a national priority voucher, because we do not fully understand what it contains.”

Head-to-Head on Efficacy

• Novo’s oral semaglutide 25 mg: ~16.6% weight loss at 64 weeks, 1 in 3 hitting ≥20% .

• Lilly’s orforglipron: ~12.4% weight loss at 72 weeks, nearly 40% hitting ≥15% .

The Bigger Picture

Novo’s pill builds on a proven path. It is essentially a scaled-up version of Rybelsus but comes with strict dosing rules and absorption challenges. Lilly’s pill is a leap into new territory. It is convenient, easier to take, and does not require cold storage, but it is metabolized in the liver which makes some observers cautious.

Both represent massive progress, both come with caveats. Then there’s always price. Your move Novo and Lilly.