The market for weight-loss medications is developing rapidly.
Several pharmaceutical companies are working on new treatments, including both tablets and new types of medicines that may offer greater weight loss than current options, according to iForm.dk.
Wegovy is now available as a pill
Novo Nordisk has launched Wegovy in tablet form on the US market.
Previously, the treatment was only available as a weekly injection.
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Daily treatment with Wegovy
The Wegovy pill is taken once daily on an empty stomach.
According to available information, it can result in weight loss of up to 17 percent of body weight.
Wegovy and Rybelsus contain the same ingredient
Both the Wegovy pill and Rybelsus contain semaglutide.
Rybelsus was developed for people with diabetes, while the Wegovy pill is specifically intended for weight loss.
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Higher dose in the Wegovy pill
One of the differences between the two products is that the Wegovy pill is administered at a higher dose than Rybelsus.
Eli Lilly’s pill project
Eli Lilly is developing Orforglipron, which is intended for the treatment of both obesity and diabetes.
Like Wegovy, the drug is a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Weight loss with Orforglipron
A previous study published in The New England Journal of Medicine involving people with obesity showed weight loss of up to 12.4 percent after 72 weeks of treatment.
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Pill without fasting requirements
Unlike the Wegovy pill, Orforglipron does not necessarily need to be taken on an empty stomach.
CagriSema combines two substances
CagriSema combines semaglutide with the compound cagrilintide.
Cagrilintide mimics the hormone amylin, which has properties similar to those of GLP-1.
Rapid results with CagriSema
In a study involving people with type 2 diabetes, CagriSema produced weight loss of 15.6 percent after 32 weeks, according to Clinical Trials Arena.
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Retatrutide activates three hormone systems
Retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly, is described as a triple agonist that targets receptors for GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon.
Record-breaking weight loss in early studies
In a phase II study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, participants without type 2 diabetes achieved average weight loss of 17.5 percent after 24 weeks.
Some participants lost more than 30 percent
A quarter of participants in the retatrutide study reduced their body weight by more than 30 percent.
Zenagamtide is a new candidate from Novo Nordisk
Zenagamtide, previously known as amycretin, is another drug currently under development at Novo Nordisk.
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The treatment is based on a single molecule capable of activating both GLP-1 and amylin receptors.
Up to 24 percent weight loss in trials
A previous study published in The Lancet demonstrated weight loss of up to 24 percent over 36 weeks.
May become available as both a pill and an injection
Zenagamtide is being investigated both as a daily tablet and as a weekly injection.