Drugmaker Eli Lilly said that in Phase 3 studies of over 550 adults, their oral GLP-1 pill, orforglipron, could reduce hemoglobin A1C levels on average by 1.3-1.6% and also help people lose up to 16 pounds, or about 7.9% of their body weight.

Injectable medications originally developed for the treatment of diabetes are also effective for weight loss and have surged in popularity for this purpose around the world.

Injectable drugs require refrigeration when they are stored or transported, and the pill potentially opens up the market