Many adults with diabetes currently use injectable GLP-1 medicines. While these treatments are effective, they require refrigeration and can cause hesitation about self-injection. Now, a new daily pill may offer similar benefits without the need for cold storage or needles.
Researchers presented data on an experimental drug called elecoglipron on June 8, 2026. Published in The Lancet, the findings suggest this new medication from AstraZeneca could change how doctors treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. Discovered by Eccogene, elecoglipron is a small molecule that imitates a natural gut hormone. It helps regulate blood sugar, slows digestion, and reduces appetite. AstraZeneca obtained the global rights in November 2023.
The pill's weight-loss effects were studied in the VISTA trial with 310 overweight or obese adults. Participants taking the highest dose lost 10.5 percent of their body weight in 26 weeks, compared to only 0.6 percent for those taking a placebo. By week 36, the high-dose group had lost an average of 11.8 percent of their weight.
A separate study, SOLSTICE, involved 404 adults with type 2 diabetes. Over 26 weeks, patients on the highest dose saw their HbA1c levels, a measure of blood sugar control, drop by 1.9 percentage points, versus 0.2 percent for the placebo group. They also lost nearly 8 percent of their body weight.
Common side effects included nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, mostly mild to moderate. The drug is still experimental and awaits FDA approval. AstraZeneca is planning larger clinical trials. If approved, it will compete with other recently approved weight-management pills.