Oral GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss

With the increasing prevalence of obesity and the advent of new and highly effective antiobesity medications, there is renewed interest in novel antiobesity pharmacotherapy. Currently, the most effective medications for obesity are injectable medicines. There is a need to develop equally efficacious oral drugs to increase availability to patients. Oral semaglutide was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for type 2 diabetes in 2019. Herein, we review the current literature regarding the use of oral GLP-1 receptor agonists specifically for obesity including semaglutide, danuglipron, and orforglipron, with a focus on oral semaglutide as it is Food and Drug Administration-approved, although not for obesity alone. We also examine the future directions and impacts it will have on patients with obesity and overweight related to weight loss and cardiovascular disease.