New Trial Shows Oral GLP-1 Aleniglipron May Be the Future

You don't need me to tell you about the widespread popularity of GLP-1 drugs. We've reached a point where anyone who loses a tremendous amount of weight, for better or worse, is assumed to be on a GLP-1.

Still, there are some people who may be uncomfortable with the idea of injecting something into their body. Aleniglipron is a new pill-form (oral) GLP-1 receptor agonist that just went through a phase 2b clinical trial.

230 adults who are obese or overweight (average BMI ~39.5) were randomly assigned to take a placebo, or aleniglipron at one of three doses (45mg, 90mg, or 120mg) for 36 weeks, with the dose gradually increasing over time.

When it comes to orals vs. injectables, there is always a question of effectiveness. Pills have to go through the digestive process while injectables get right into the bloodstream. But the results for aleniglipron were very encouraging.

On the highest dose, 86% of people lost at least 5% of their body weight, 70% lost at least 10%, and 38% lost at least 15%. Weight loss continued at the 36-week mark and never plateaued, which indicates that a longer trial would still see results.

Bonus effects include improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar (HbA1c), and a marker of inflammation (CRP). These are most likely due to the weight loss itself rather than some other independent factor.

Typical GLP-1 side effects occurred, like nausea and vomiting. Some people started on a smaller dose and experienced less side effects.

Aleniglipron looks like a credible oral alternative to injectable GLP-1 drugs, with comparable weight loss to existing options. The safety profile so far looks consistent with other approved GLP-1 drugs, with no new red flags. Overall it is a promising early-stage result for a convenient oral option, but it's still a couple of trial phases away from being an approved medication.

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This story was originally published June 27, 2026 at 12:44 PM.