A GLP-1 drug in pill form helped people with obesity lose 12% of their body weight — no needles required — pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced on Thursday, August 7.

If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it could be available by next year.

The medication, orforglipron, is in the same class of drugs as Mounjaro and Ozempic , which patients self-inject once a week. In contrast, the pill is taken once a day, and there are no food or water restrictions.

It may be more convenient or preferable for people who can’t stand needles or would just prefer to swallow a pill.

The weight loss shown in a late-stage trial of the pill is less than people can achieve with the injectable GLP-1 drugs, which can be 20% of body weight or more, NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie

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