A new daily weight loss pill could be available soon – and a recent trial has shown that people taking the drug can shed kilos in weeks. Its release will offer people with obesity a new and convenient alternative to jabs. Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly said it expects substantial demand when the new pill is launched.

Eli Lilly will seek regulatory approval for its next-generation weight-loss pill by year-end, based on data that suggests it may not be as potent as injectable GLP-1 drugs on the market.

Trials of a daily obesity pill have shown it can help patients lose around 12% of their body weight over 72 weeks. The manufacturer, Eli Lilly, says the drug, which is not yet licensed, could be available next year. The daily pill, called orforglipron, works by suppressing appetite and making you feel more full.