What it is
Orforglipron is not a peptide. It is a small-molecule drug made in a lab by the drug company Eli Lilly. It is a daily pill. It attaches to the GLP-1 receptor, the same receptor semaglutide and liraglutide use. Peptides like semaglutide break down in the stomach, so most must be injected. The one semaglutide pill must be taken on an empty stomach with little water. Orforglipron is a small chemical, not a protein chain, so stomach enzymes do not break it down. It can be taken without food or water rules. It lasts about 24 to 29 hours in the blood. It is included in this glossary because it acts on the same receptor as the GLP-1 peptides. Other names: Foundayo, LY3502970, OWL833.
What researchers study it for
- Body weight in people with obesity
- Blood sugar in early type 2 diabetes
- Pill form of GLP-1 drugs
What the studies found
1. Adults with obesity lost 8.6 to 12.6 percent of body weight in 36 weeks.
A 2023 phase 2 trial gave 272 adults with obesity or overweight a daily orforglipron pill at one of four doses, or placebo. After 36 weeks, weight dropped 8.6 to 12.6 percent depending on dose. The placebo group lost 2.0 percent. The most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Human data.
2. Blood sugar dropped in early type 2 diabetes.
The ACHIEVE-1 trial gave orforglipron or placebo to adults with early type 2 diabetes not on other diabetes drugs. After 40 weeks, HbA1c dropped 1.48 points at the highest dose and 0.41 points on placebo. Weight also went down. Stomach side effects were the most common. Human data.
3. Adults with obesity lost 11.2 percent of body weight in 72 weeks.
The ATTAIN-1 trial gave orforglipron or placebo to adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes. After 72 weeks, weight dropped 11.2 percent at the highest dose and 2.1 percent on placebo. 54.6 percent at the highest dose lost at least 10 percent of their weight. This is less weight loss than injected tirzepatide or semaglutide showed in their own trials. Human data.
How much research exists
Phase 2 and several phase 3 human trials. A heart outcome trial is planned. Because it is newly approved, long-term safety data is limited.
Facts
- Formula: C48H48F2N10O5
- Weight: 883.0 g/mol
- CAS number: 2212020-52-3
- Sequence: none. It is a small molecule, not a peptide.
- Time in the blood: about 24 to 29 hours
- Storage: room temperature in its original packaging.
Legal status
Approved by the FDA in April 2026 as Foundayo for long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition. Not approved for type 2 diabetes. Research-grade orforglipron is not the approved product and is not approved for human use.
For research use only. Not for human use. Nothing here is medical advice.