New ‘Ozempic pill' is better than ‘skinny jabs' and helps you lose weight even faster, study suggests
The new weight loss medication, which can also be offered by injection, can help patients lose a significant amount of weight.
An early study found that patients who received amycretin as a weekly jab lost 24% of their body weight after 36 weeks of treatment.
But initial trials assessing a tablet form of the jab saw promising results with patients losing an average 13% of bodyweight in just three months.
This suggests the drug leads to greater weight loss than Wegovy, the 'sister jab' of Ozempic.
Such treatments have been called transformative by NHS leaders.
It's estimated that around 1.5 million Brits currently receive weight loss jabs through specialist weight loss services or private prescriptions.
But weight pills offer a new hope to millions looking to lose weight as the injections put additional pressure on an overstretched NHS.
However, further clinical trials are needed before the treatment can be made available in the UK.
This could take several years and there's no guarantee that regulators will approve the use of the drug.
Amycretin, made by Novo Nordisk, contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy and helps control blood sugar and appetite.
It targets specific receptors in the body - the GLP-1 and amylin receptors - helping you feel full and stops overeating.
An early trial published in The Lancet found that 125 adults taking weekly injections containing higher doses of the drug lost nearly a quarter of their body weight after 36 weeks.
It also showed signs of improving blood sugar levels.
However, there were some mild to moderate side effects including nausea and vomiting but these were resolved by the end of the treatment.
Experts said that the medicine appeared "safe and tolerable" but further studies were needed to fully assess the drug.
But a second trial, also published in The Lancet, assessed the drug in tablet form in 144 people.
Those taking the highest dose of 100mg lost 13% of their body weight over four months.
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
The authors wrote: "Amycretin effectively lowered body weight and improved metabolic and glycaemic parameters in people who were overweight or obese.
"Longer studies with more participants are warranted for evaluation of the safety and efficacy of amycretin in individuals living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and to optimise the dosing regimen."
As with the first trial, there were also some mild to moderate side effects including loss of appetite and similar gastrointestinal issues.
It comes as a separate study examined the effects of the weight-loss jab, Wegovy, at higher doses.
The researchers found that giving patients 7.2mg of Wegovy once a week led to an average weight loss of 21%, with a third of participants losing 25% of their body weight over 72 weeks.
The studies were also presented to the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
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Research shows that many people regain weight after stopping treatment if they are not supported, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said. The health watchdog said that people coming off the drugs should be offered 'structured advice and follow-up support' to help prevent weight gain. The guidance is for people who are offered the treatments through the NHS. An estimated 1.5 million people are taking weight loss jabs in the UK, but the vast majority are paying for them privately so will not be eligible for NHS support after they have finished their treatment. Around 240,000 people with 'greatest need' are expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, through the NHS over the next three years. The new 'quality standard' from Nice says that NHS patients should be monitored for at least a year after they complete treatment, and extra support should be offered if needed. It emphasises building 'long-term behavioural habits, use self-monitoring tools, and draw on wider support – from online communities to family-led interventions and local activities'. This standard, a type of guidance for the health services in England and Wales, sets out expectations for health providers including how they should support patients. 'Successful weight management doesn't end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme,' said Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at Nice. 'We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they've made. 'This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care, and it supports the NHS 10 Year Plan to shift from a 'sickness service' to a genuine health service focused on prevention.' Dr Rebecca Payne, chair of Nice's Quality Standards Advisory Committee, added: 'Weight management is a long-term journey, not a short-term fix. Little swaps can make tasty, healthy changes. For lots of tips and support to eat better visit: — NHS Blackpool Teaching Hospitals 💙🌈 (@BlackpoolHosp) April 12, 2025 'The evidence is clear that advice and support for maintaining weight after stopping medicines or completing behavioural interventions can help prevent weight regain and enable people to experience lasting benefits. 'We've seen excellent examples of services that already provide comprehensive discharge planning and ongoing support. 'This quality standard will help ensure all healthcare providers adopt these best practices, giving every person the best chance of maintaining their weight management success over the long term. 'This standard ensures healthcare services are equipped to provide that essential ongoing support.' Commenting, Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'Pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide full wrap around support to patients trying to achieve a healthy weight. 'We know that although medication can be effective in speeding up weight loss in some people, it is not a silver bullet and patients need to make long term lifestyle changes to make their weight loss sustainable. 'The current NHS roll out of weight loss treatment is very small, with only a handful of patients receiving it and it will continue to be the case that the vast majority of eligible patients will be seen by their pharmacy.' Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling obesity – what works for one patient will likely not work for another and, as with any medication, weight-loss drugs do not come without risk. 'It's also the case that patients will likely need support to sustain their weight loss once they stop taking the medication. As such, this is important and sensible guidance from Nice. 'As a college, we've been clear that whilst weight loss medications have significant potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight, they mustn't be seen as a 'silver bullet' and ensuring access to sufficient 'wraparound' services – particularly for when patients come off their medication – will be key to optimal health outcomes.'
