FDA Approves Eli Lilly's New Weight-Loss Pill

The drug is the second daily oral medication approved to treat obesity and related conditions.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:41pm

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted expedited approval for Eli Lilly's new weight-loss pill, orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug that works similarly to widely used injectable medications to control appetite and feelings of fullness.

Why it matters

The approval of this new oral weight-loss medication provides patients with an additional treatment option beyond injectable GLP-1 drugs, which may improve accessibility and convenience for those struggling with obesity and related health issues.

The details

Orforglipron is a GLP-1 drug that mimics a natural hormone to regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. The FDA granted the drug expedited approval, making it the second daily oral medication approved for the treatment of obesity and related conditions in the United States.

  • The FDA approved orforglipron on April 1, 2026.

The players

Eli Lilly

A pharmaceutical company that developed the new weight-loss pill orforglipron.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency that granted expedited approval for Eli Lilly's new weight-loss medication.

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What’s next

The new weight-loss pill is expected to become available to patients in the coming months, providing an additional oral treatment option for those struggling with obesity.

The takeaway

The approval of Eli Lilly's new oral weight-loss medication represents an important step forward in expanding treatment options for the growing number of Americans affected by obesity and related health issues.