Slimming jags are becoming more and more popular – but some users find it hard to keep the weight off.
Weight loss injections are all the rage at the moment. In the earlier days, it was mostly celebrities that were using the GLP-1 jags, such as Mounjaro, now they are much more widely available.
Users have reported incredible results in shifting some pounds while taking the injections. But one of the biggest drawbacks that people have found is that the weight returns a little bit too easily.
Given that many users have been battling their weight for many years, seeing the scales jump up again quite quickly after stopping the injections could be rather disheartening. But a new study has offered some hope for those looking to lose weight and keep it off.
The research by Nature Medicine found that a simple tablet, Orfiglipron, is actually more effective for avoiding weight regain than the GLP-1 injections. Although it is not yet on the UK market, it is hoped that Orforglipron will be available in the near future.
Robert Bradshaw, Superintendent Pharmacist and Weight Loss Medication Expert at Oxford Online Pharmacy, has shared the key details about the medication, including why it’s not available yet, when it might hit the market, and who would benefit from it.
Orfiglipron has been manufactured by Eli Lily and was approved by the FDA in the US back in April under the name Foundayo. According to Robert, there isn’t a confirmed release date in the UK but the weight loss tablet has been submitted for review in Britain.
The expert expects approval to be granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and believes that “it could become available privately later in 2026”. For those hoping to get their hands on the tablets via the NHS, it will require a review from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and may take until 2027.
Separate clinical trials have already shown promising results for those on Orforglipron, with one study seeing obese adults losing around 12 per cent of their body weight on average over 72 weeks and another finding a 10 per cent loss in obese adults with type 2 diabetes.
While this is a lower level than was found with GLP-1 jags, the once-daily tablet is less invasive than weekly injections. Orforglipron was also found to be better with keeping off the weight lost during treatment.
Robert says that the MHRA review process “doesn’t mean there are concerns about the treatment” but that “clinics and pharmacies here are not allowed to prescribe or supply [Orfiglipron]” until it gets approval.
There is a two-stage process before the medication becomes available. Robert says: “First, the MHRA will review the clinical trial evidence and decide whether to license it for use. Once licensed, it can be prescribed privately.
“Then, NICE will assess whether the treatment should be funded on the NHS. This involves comparing how effective it is with existing options and whether it represents good value for the health service.”
The NICE approval may take “some time” and come in a similar way to Mounjaro, which went through a phased release into the health service.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.dailyrecord.co.uk
