Upcoming weight-loss drugs: orforglipron, CagriSema, retatrutide and others

Upcoming weight-loss drugs at a glance

Weight results are group averages from each trial against placebo. The trials differed in length and population, so the figures cannot be compared directly with each other.

Orforglipron: the first GLP-1 tablet that is not a peptide

Orforglipron is a small molecule, not a peptide, taken as a tablet once a day [1]A. According to the FDA it does not need to be taken on an empty stomach [2].

In ATTAIN-1, 3,127 adults with obesity without diabetes received orforglipron 6, 12 or 36 mg or placebo for 72 weeks. Weight fell by a mean of 7.5%, 8.4% and 11.2%, and 2.1% with placebo. Adverse events led 5.3% to 10.3% of those on orforglipron and 2.7% on placebo to stop. The trial was funded by Eli Lilly [1]A.

The FDA approved Foundayo, which contains orforglipron, for weight management on 1 Apr 2026 [2]. The UK regulator MHRA approved it on 10 Aug 2026, the first in Europe [3]. On the EMA list of applications under evaluation, orforglipron appeared on 5 Oct 2026 for obesity and type 2 diabetes [4]. An EU marketing authorisation requires a positive EMA opinion, so the timing cannot be known yet.

Weight-loss drugs as tablets: what already exists?

Semaglutide as a tablet is already authorised for weight management in the EU as the Wegovy tablet [5]. In OASIS 4, a 25 mg semaglutide tablet lowered weight over 64 weeks by a mean of 13.6% and placebo by 2.2% [6]A.

Another new option already authorised is a higher Wegovy injection dose. According to the label, the dose can under set conditions be raised from 2.4 mg to 7.2 mg [5]. In STEP UP, weight fell over 72 weeks by 18.7% with 7.2 mg, 15.6% with 2.4 mg and 3.9% with placebo [7]A.

Read more: Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro side by side | Semaglutide (Wegovy, Rybelsus)

CagriSema: semaglutide and an amylin analogue together

CagriSema combines semaglutide with cagrilintide, which acts like the pancreatic hormone amylin [8]A.

In REDEFINE 1, 3,417 adults without diabetes received CagriSema, semaglutide alone, cagrilintide alone or placebo for 68 weeks. Weight fell by a mean of 20.4% with CagriSema and 3.0% with placebo. Gastrointestinal events occurred in 79.6% and 39.9% [8]A. In REDEFINE 2, in people with type 2 diabetes, weight fell by 13.7% and 3.4% with placebo [9]A. Both were funded by Novo Nordisk [8, 9]A.

According to Novo Nordisk, the company applied to the FDA on 18 Dec 2025, and the FDA was expected to review the application in 2026 [10]E, not peer-reviewed. According to the FDA page updated on 1 Oct 2026, cagrilintide is not a component of any FDA-approved drug [11]. It was not on the EMA evaluation list on 5 Oct 2026 [4]. A head-to-head trial against tirzepatide (NCT06131437) has ended according to the registry, but no peer-reviewed results had been published by 13 Oct 2026 [12]E, not peer-reviewed.

Retatrutide: an agonist of three hormones

Retatrutide acts on the GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors [13]A. In TRIUMPH-1, 2,339 adults with obesity without diabetes received retatrutide 4, 9 or 12 mg or placebo for 80 weeks. Weight fell by a mean of 17.6%, 23.7% and 25.0%, and 3.9% with placebo. The trial was funded by Eli Lilly [13]A.

Retatrutide is not in the EMA medicines database [14], and according to the FDA it has not been found safe and effective for any condition [11]. The FDA has warned companies that sold it [11].

Read more: Retatrutide: all trials and side effects

Amycretin, survodutide, MariTide and mazdutide

Amycretin is a single molecule that acts on both GLP-1 and amylin receptors. In a phase 1b/2a study of 125 participants, weight fell over 36 weeks by a mean of 24.3% at 60 mg and 1.1% with placebo. Many participants withdrew, partly for reasons other than adverse events [15]A. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the phase 3 AMAZE trials began in 2026, and the first primary results are listed for 2028 [16]E, not peer-reviewed.

Survodutide acts on the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors. In the phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial, weight in 725 adults fell over 76 weeks by a mean of 12.2% and 13.0%, and 5.4% with placebo. Gastrointestinal events occurred in 80.9%, 89.7% and 47.9% [17]A.

Maridebart cafraglutide (MariTide) is injected once a month or less often. In a phase 2 trial, weight fell over 52 weeks by a mean of 12.3% to 16.2% without diabetes and 2.5% with placebo [18]A. Phase 3 trials are under way according to the registry, with the first primary results expected around 2027 [19]E, not peer-reviewed.

Mazdutide was approved in China for weight management in June 2025 [21]. In the Chinese GLORY-1 trial weight fell over 48 weeks by 11.0% and 14.0%, while the placebo group gained 0.3% [20]A.

When will new weight-loss drugs reach Finland?

A new medicine needs an EU marketing authorisation, preceded by an EMA assessment. On the EMA list of applications under evaluation on 5 Oct 2026, the only weight-management entries were orforglipron and one generic or hybrid semaglutide application [4]. The other investigational drugs on this page were therefore not yet under EU evaluation.

After authorisation, price and any reimbursement by Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, which pays medicine reimbursements) are handled separately. Prices and reimbursement of current medicines are in the cost guide.

Read more: Prices and Kela reimbursement of current weight-loss drugs | Why an investigational drug cannot be bought online