New Oral Weight-Loss Pill Beats Expectations in Trial

An experimental oral GLP-1 drug called aleniglipron helped adults with obesity or overweight lose up to about 12% of their body weight over 36 weeks, according to a new trial from Northwestern University published in Nature Medicine. Unlike injectable treatments such as Wegovy and Ozempic, aleniglipron is a small-molecule pill that can be taken once daily with or without food. Researchers followed 230 adults with overweight or obesity across 38 U.S. medical centers, testing three escalating doses over the study period. The drug works by stimulating insulin secretion, suppressing appetite, and increasing feelings of fullness. Side effects were mostly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal issues that eased over time, and researchers reported no new safety concerns or cases of liver injury. Aleniglipron is not yet approved by the FDA, but the maker, Structure Therapeutics, is moving toward Phase 3 trials. Researchers say the pill format could make effective obesity treatment more accessible than daily injections. Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools. ai-generated WooGlobe Ref : WGA178272