Oral GLP-1 that outperformed oral Ozempic

In a large 52-week phase 3 trial involving 1,698 adults with type 2 diabetes, orforglipron outperformed oral semaglutide. HbA1c reduction was 1.71–1.91% compared with 1.47% for semaglutide. Weight loss results were also better: 6.1–8.2 kg versus 5.3 kg. The drug belongs to the small-molecule class rather than peptides, making it cheaper and easier to manufacture.

However, orforglipron showed a higher rate of gastrointestinal side effects (59% versus 37–45% for semaglutide), leading 10% of participants to discontinue treatment (compared with 4–5% in the semaglutide group). This may become an important factor when choosing therapy in real-world practice.

Foundayo has been officially available in the United States since April 2026 through LillyDirect and pharmacies. At the same time, unofficial versions of the drug have already appeared. In particular, the Vietnamese company Lucius Pharmaceuticals has begun selling Lucius-Orforglipron — not a licensed generic, but a parallel copy produced without the consent of the patent holder.

Sources:

1. The Conversation. "New weight loss pill beats oral Ozempic in major trial." ScienceDaily (July 8, 2026).
2. Eli Lilly and Company. FDA approval announcement for Foundayo (orforglipron), April 1, 2026.