Revolutionary diabetes treatment GPs have been ‘crying out for’ is one step closer

Game-changing diabetes pills could hit Australian shelves within years, after the first phase three clinical trial data was released for a new type of medicine that lowers blood sugar.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine the drug, called Orforglipron, was shown to imitate a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.

The trial results have delighted diabetes experts as the drug could provide a real alternative to popular injectable treatments like Ozempic that have been plagued with supply issues.

Australian Diabetes Society chief executive Associate Professor Sof Andrikopoulos told media outlet AAP the results were “really, really exciting.”

“The reduction in blood glucose and weight with Orforglipron is similar, if not a little bit better, than the similar clinical trials that were done for Ozempic and Mounjaro,” Professor Andrikopoulos said.

The trial, which involved 500 adults with type 2 diabetes, focused on diabetes treatment, with the results unveiled at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in Chicago.

While Eli Lilly, the company that developed the pill, did not flag any unexpected safety concerns, side effects reported were similar to existing medications like gastrointestinal issues.

Although other oral diabetes medications already exist, these trials are significant as it’s the first synthetic treatment to reach phase three, Prof Andrikopoulos said.

Additionally, the synthetic chemical is easier to make than other drugs and doesn’t need to be refrigerated, making it potentially cheaper and easier to transport to remote areas than injectable treatments.

“These are potentially disease modifying therapies, and in that respect it’s a game-changer, ” Prof Andrikopoulos said.

“In terms of managing types of diabetes and obesity, I think we are at the cusp of being able to make a significant impact on reducing obesity in Australia and around the world.”

His optimism is cautiously shared by Sydney-based Endocrinologist Associate Professor Ted Wu, who treats many patients with diabetes, and said physicians had been “crying out” for oral alternatives to incretin injections.

While hopeful about the findings, Associate Professor Wu cautioned it was not a “head to head” trial measuring the effectiveness of Orforglipron against injections but said it appears the results were very similar.

“As it stands, this looks like it offers all the advantages of the current incretin injections, but with all the advantages of an oral once-a-day medication and hopefully with far fewer supply issues,” Prof Wu said.

Both Professors believe there is a good chance the pill will become available for use. From past performance Prof Wu expects the Therapeutic Goods Administration would probably take between 12 and 24 months to approve the new drug, while Prof Andrikopoulos expected approval from the TGA would be “reasonable straightforward” once it receives an application by Eli Lilly.

Read more: Living with diabetes: Experts set the record straight on common diet myths

-with AAP.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.