Orforglipron UK Release Date: The No-Fasting Oral Weight Loss Pill Explained

Orforglipron is a new tablet-based weight-loss medicine being developed by Eli Lilly. It works on the same appetite-controlling pathway as injectable treatments like Wegovy and Mounjaro, but is taken as a once-daily tablet instead of an injection.

What makes orforglipron different is how it is made. It has been designed so it can be absorbed properly when swallowed, meaning it does not need injections, fasting, or special timing around food or drink. For many people, this could make long-term treatment simpler and easier to stick with.

Orforglipron is not yet available in the UK. This article explains when it may become available, how it works, what the studies show, and how it compares with existing weight-loss treatments used in the UK.

When Will Orforglipron Be Available in the UK?

There is currently no confirmed UK launch date for orforglipron.

Eli Lilly has said it plans to apply for approval after completing late-stage studies, with regulatory submissions expected during 2025. In the UK, this involves review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

If approved, orforglipron could be prescribed in the UK. As with other weight-loss medicines, it would likely become available privately first, before being assessed for NHS use.

For NHS prescribing, NICE would need to review the medicine and decide whether it offers good value compared with existing treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. This process takes time, so NHS availability would follow later, if approved.

What Is Orforglipron?

Orforglipron is a medicine that helps people lose weight by:

Reducing appetite
Increasing feelings of fullness
Helping people eat less over time

It works by activating the GLP-1 receptor, the same system targeted by current injectable weight-loss medicines.

The key difference is its chemical structure. Most existing GLP-1 medicines are made from protein-like molecules that are broken down in the stomach, which is why they must be injected. Orforglipron is made differently, allowing it to:

Remain stable in the stomach
Be absorbed through the gut
Be taken as a normal tablet

This means it can be taken without fasting, without water restrictions, and without injections.

Clinical Trial Results: How Effective Is Orforglipron?

Orforglipron has been tested in large clinical studies involving people with obesity or overweight, including the ATTAIN clinical trial programme.

Across these studies, including ATTAIN-1, ATTAIN-2, and ATTAIN-3:

Weight loss increased as the dose increased
Many people lost around 10–15% of their body weight
A large number achieved 10% or more weight loss, which is known to improve health risks linked to obesity

In longer studies lasting over a year, such as ATTAIN-1, participants also saw improvements in waist size, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Overall, the results show that orforglipron can lead to meaningful and lasting weight loss, although injectable treatments still tend to produce the greatest average weight loss.

Orforglipron Compared With Other Weight Loss Medications

Wegovy and Mounjaro are currently the main weight-loss medicines recommended in the UK. They are taken as weekly injections and, on average, lead to greater weight loss than oral treatments.

In clinical studies:

Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) typically leads to around 15% average body-weight loss
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) often leads to 20–22% or more average body-weight loss
Orforglipron has shown around 10–15% average body-weight loss, depending on dose and study duration

However, Wegovy and Mounjaro:

Require injections and needles
Often need refrigeration
Can be less convenient for some people

Orforglipron:

Is taken as a daily tablet
Does not involve injections
Does not need refrigeration
Does not require fasting or special timing

For some people, the convenience of a tablet may be more important than achieving the highest possible weight loss, particularly for long-term treatment.

Side Effects and Safety Profile

Across clinical trials, orforglipron’s safety profile has been broadly consistent with the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and reduced appetite. These effects are usually mild to moderate and tend to occur during dose escalation.

Discontinuation due to side effects occurred in a minority of participants, at rates similar to other GLP-1 therapies. To date, no new or unexpected safety signals have been highlighted in published trial data. As with all new medicines, ongoing post-marketing surveillance will be important to confirm long-term safety in real-world use.

Cost and Access Expectations in the UK

No official UK price has yet been announced for orforglipron. However, its formulation as a small-molecule tablet has structural advantages over injectable biologics. Tablets are typically easier and cheaper to manufacture at scale and do not require cold-chain logistics for storage or transport.

These factors may support broader access and more competitive pricing over time, although launch prices in the private sector are likely to reflect demand and novelty. For NHS use, NICE will assess whether the health benefits justify the cost compared with existing treatments. A positive NICE recommendation would be required before routine NHS prescribing could begin.

Conclusion

Orforglipron represents a meaningful advance in oral GLP-1 therapy. It offers clinically significant weight loss and metabolic benefits in a once-daily tablet that does not require fasting or injections. For UK patients, particularly those who prefer tablets or struggle with injectable regimens, it could expand treatment choice substantially.

As of late 2025, orforglipron is not yet available in the UK. Regulatory submission is expected around the end of the year, with private access most likely from 2026 and NHS availability dependent on a favourable NICE appraisal, potentially from 2027 onwards. If approved, it is well positioned to reshape the oral weight-loss treatment landscape.

Sources

Written by Christian Jakobsson