By Fionnuala Boyle

Copyright dailyrecord

Weight loss jabs are all the rage since medication like Mounjaro – used to help treat type 2 diabetes but now recommended to help dangerously obese people lose weight on the NHS – became available in the UK last year. There are around 1.5 million people on weight loss drugs in the UK with more than half of them on Mounjaro, according to the BBC. And now, a new weight loss pill from Eli Lilly, the same manufacturer of Mounjaro and therefore pipped to deliver similar results, could be expected to be available in the UK as early as next year. And it could be cheaper, too. The new pill, known as Orforglipron, would be taken once daily and in the first of two pivotal trials in adults with obesity, delivered weight loss of up to an average of 27.3lbs. What’s more, the fresh weight loss pill looks to be more convenient for patients and healthcare providers alike, with expected costs lower than those of injectable medications. Last month, Eli Lilly announced it was raising the list price of Mounjaro by as much as 170 per cent, which could lead to the expense of the highest dose climbing from £122 to £330 per month. The manufacturer initially stated that the UK price of Mounjaro had to increase to align more with higher prices in Europe and the US . It has since been reported that the highest dose will be sold to suppliers for £247.50. Dr Crystal Wyllie at Asda Online Doctor shared her insights into the new evidence from the latest trials. “Orforglipron… mimics the body’s GLP-1 hormone , like Mounjaro, working to regulate appetite, slow stomach emptying, and improve insulin function,” Dr Crystal explained. “This helps people to eat less and feel fuller for longer. “Mounjaro is one of the most effective weight-loss medications to date, with trials showing patients losing an average of 15-22 per cent of their body weight. “New evidence suggests that Eli Lilly’s pill has lowered participants’ weight by an average of up to 12.4 per cent at 72 weeks, with some losing more than 15 per cent of their body weight. “This makes it significantly more effective than existing weight-loss pills currently available.” Last year, tirzepatide was approved specifically for weight loss by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) under the brand name Mounjaro. At the same time, semaglutide, also known as Wegovy , was approved for treating obesity. It has also been licensed under the brand name Ozempic for treating diabetes in some circumstances, but not for weight loss in Scotland. Since 2022, a third drug, liraglutide, has been approved under the name of Saxenda. While the use of the drugs is limited on the NHS, they can also be bought privately. However, pharmacists and doctors have warned of risks to patient safety through online sales. Stricter checks were brought this year requiring in-person or video consultations, along with information from GP or medical records. “Taking a pill is much more convenient for patients who struggle with needles, and also easier for healthcare services to administer,” Dr Crystal went on. “With manufacturing costs likely lower than those of injectable medications, Orforglipron could be cheaper to buy, store, and transport.” “Orforglipron… could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments,” Kenneth Custer, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health. “With these positive data in hand, we are now planning to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end and are prepared for a global launch to address this urgent public health need.” The Scottish Health Survey 2023 revealed almost a third of adults (32 per cent) were living with obesity , the highest level recorded and an increase from 24 per cent in 2003.