Weight Loss Pills Set to Replace Injectables Like Wegovy

According to a report published by USA Today, the next major innovation in weight-loss drugs could revolutionize the field, bringing the effectiveness of injectables to convenient pills at potentially lower costs. While current medications have shown promising weight loss results, they have limitations such as a lack of long-term safety and effectiveness data, the need for weekly injections, and their high price tags. However, experts believe that oral small molecules, or pills, could overcome these challenges and provide accessible and acceptable solutions for weight loss.  

Raymond Stevens, CEO of Structure Therapeutics, a biotech company working on drugs for obesity and diabetes, believes that oral small molecules are the future of weight loss treatments. These pills are easier to manufacture, which could alleviate the shortages that have made weight loss medications difficult to access in recent years. Moreover, the transition from injections to pills would make the drugs more widely accepted by the general population, according to Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and founding director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. 

However, there are concerns that drug companies may attempt to compensate for the recent pressure to lower the cost of insulin by increasing the prices of weight loss drugs. Dr. Topol hopes that these companies will make the pills relatively inexpensive, but it remains to be seen whether they will prioritize affordability.  

At the American Diabetes Association’s annual conference, several pharmaceutical companies presented their research on pills being developed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, both based on the medication semaglutide, showcased two new studies on a pill form of the drug.

In one study, 334 participants took a daily 50-gram semaglutide pill for approximately 18 months and experienced significant weight loss compared to those who took a placebo. On average, the group taking semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, while the placebo group only lost 2.6%. Side effects were more common in the group taking the drug, particularly gastrointestinal side effects.  

Another study examined the effectiveness of a pill form of semaglutide in individuals with both diabetes and excess weight. Previous studies have shown that lower doses of semaglutide in pill form, sold as Rybelsus, do not provide adequate diabetes control for one-third to one-half of patients. However, the new study found that higher doses of semaglutide led to more weight loss and better glucose control without significantly increasing side effects. At a daily dose of 25 mg or 50 mg, more participants achieved effective diabetes control, with some also experiencing a 5% to 10% reduction in body weight.  

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer also announced its progress in developing an experimental pill called danuglipron for the treatment of both obesity and type 2 diabetes. Pfizer is conducting a large-scale trial involving 1,400 participants to evaluate the drug’s efficacy in both conditions. Additionally, a smaller study focusing on obesity without diabetes is expected to be completed by the end of the year. While danuglipron is currently designed to be taken twice a day, Pfizer is working on a once-a-day version.  

A study published earlier this year in the Journal of American Medical Association Network Open demonstrated the effectiveness of danuglipron for people with diabetes, showing comparable side effects to current injectable weight-loss drugs. Once the ongoing studies are completed, Pfizer will decide whether to pursue the drug for both diabetes and weight loss. 

The development of oral small molecules for weight loss could mark a significant advancement in the field of obesity treatment. With the potential for improved accessibility, affordability, and acceptability, these pills hold promise for addressing the growing prevalence of obesity and overweight individuals. However, further research and clinical trials are necessary to ensure the long-term safety and effectiveness of these innovative weight-loss drugs.