On Wednesday 4/1/26, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eli Lilly’s new oral weight-loss pill, orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug that works like the widely used injectable medications. It’s the second daily oral medication to treat obesity and other weight-related conditions (Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy was the first) – allowing patients to avoid having to give themselves injections. The FDA authorized Eli Lilly’s drug as part of a new program aimed at cutting drug approval times, reviewing the application in in 50 days. The drug is expected to start shipping on Monday April 6th, 2026. Lilly said that with insurance, the cost will start at a $25 per month with a Lilly discount card. Prices for people paying cash will range between $149 per month to $349 per month, depending on the dose.
Last September, the NEMJ published the results of a clinical trial of more than 3,000 adults with obesity. Participants who received the highest dose of orforglipron, 36 milligrams, lost 11.2% of their body weight –- about 25 pounds on average –- over more than 16 months. That compared with a 2.1% weight loss, or less than 5 pounds, in patients who received a placebo.
I keep an eye on this space because, despite considerable issues with nausea, vomiting, muscle loss, and even rare cases of sudden blindness, the GLP-1 RA drugs may offer the first real hope for patients with metabolic syndrome associated with chronic ulcers. I have no idea if these drugs will improve wound healing, but there is ample evidence that they reduce cardiovascular events like stroke and myocardial infarction, among obese patients with and without diabetes. The drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects, another mechanism that may help our patients. I don’t have a vested interest in any of these medications, but I hope that they offer some hope to our patients.
Related Posts:
- Poll: At Least 12% of US Adults Have Taken a GLP-1 Drug – Caroline Fife M.D.
- GLP-1 RAs and Peripheral Arterial Disease? – Caroline Fife M.D.
- GLP-1 RAs and Their Possible Use for Addiction and Inflammatory Conditions? – Caroline Fife M.D.
- GLP-1 RA Drugs May Be Associated With a Rare Cause of Sudden Blindness and Case Reports Suggest That HBOT May Be Beneficial – Caroline Fife M.D.
- How Not to Use EHR Data in Wound Care – and a Lost Opportunity to Understand the Impact of Semaglutide on Diabetic Foot Ulcers – Caroline Fife M.D.
- Tirzepatide Improves Sleep Apnea, Based on a New Study Published in NEMJ – Caroline Fife M.D.
Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog at CarolineFifeMD.com and my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/carolinefifemd/videos
The opinions, comments, and content expressed or implied in my statements are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of Intellicure or any of the boards on which I serve.
