Study Suggests Patients Maintain Weight Loss After Switching to Obesity Pill

New clinical trial data released this week indicates that patients switching from injectable obesity medications to a daily oral treatment may be able to preserve much of their previous weight loss.

Reuters reported that Eli Lilly’s experimental obesity pill, Foundayo, produced encouraging results during a late-stage study presented at the European Congress on Obesity.

Researchers found that patients who transitioned from injectable medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound regained relatively little weight during the one-year study period. The findings may help address concerns from patients worried about regaining weight after ending injectable treatments.

According to Reuters, patients who previously used Wegovy regained an average of only about two pounds over a year after switching to the pill. Former Zepbound users regained somewhat more weight but still maintained a significant percentage of their earlier weight loss.

Healthcare analysts say oral obesity medications could substantially expand the overall market because many patients prefer pills over injections. Drugmakers also believe easier daily administration may improve long-term treatment consistency among consumers managing obesity and related medical conditions.

The obesity-treatment industry continues experiencing rapid growth as pharmaceutical companies compete aggressively for market share. Analysts expect global obesity-drug sales to eventually exceed $100 billion annually as additional medications receive approval and insurance coverage expands.

Researchers cautioned that additional long-term studies will still be needed to evaluate effectiveness and safety over multiple years. Federal regulators and healthcare providers are expected to continue monitoring the rapidly evolving obesity-drug industry throughout 2026.

(This article was AI Generated using information from Reuters Healthcare coverage and European Congress on Obesity reporting)