New oral GLP-1 pill claims: what the science actually shows

What did @drterrysimpson actually say?

Dr. Terry Simpson, a bariatric surgeon, announced what he called a new oral weight loss pill, referring to it as "a forgal plot, also known as foundeo" and admitting he had no idea how the name was chosen. He claimed it can be taken any time without food, produces results "similar to wagabe" (likely Wegovy), and costs around $149 out of pocket or $50 under Medicare Part D. He also noted cardiovascular and sleep apnea outcome studies are still pending, while current data shows improvements in HbA1c and blood pressure. He predicted three more weight loss medications would be approved this year.

His framing was mostly enthusiastic but not reckless. He was upfront that long-term cardiovascular data is still coming, and he framed these medications as reducing the need for bariatric surgery, which is a reasonable clinical perspective. The pronunciation issues and name confusion, however, matter more than they seem when we are trying to verify what drug he is actually talking about.

Does the science back this up?

Partially, but the details are blurry enough to warrant caution. The drug he appears to be describing is likely orforglipron, an oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly. If that is what he means, the science is genuinely promising but still maturing.

A 2023 phase 2 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Wharton et al., 2023, NEJM) showed orforglipron produced up to 14.7% mean weight loss over 36 weeks at the highest dose, with improvements in fasting glucose and blood pressure. That is a meaningful result. The claim that it performs similarly to semaglutide oral (Rybelsus) or injectable Wegovy is an overstatement at this stage. Wegovy's phase 3 STEP trials showed 14.9% body weight reduction over 68 weeks in a larger, more diverse population. Orforglipron's phase 3 data is still being collected. Comparing them now is premature, though the trajectory is encouraging.

His point about HbA1c and blood pressure improvements is consistent with what the phase 2 data showed. His caution about cardiovascular and sleep apnea outcomes being pending is accurate and responsible.

What did they get wrong (or right)?

The name is a real problem. He says "forgal plot" and "foundeo," which are not the actual names of any approved or investigational drug on record. The most likely candidate is orforglipron, which has not been FDA-approved as of mid-2025. If he is announcing it as already "on the market," that is misleading. Orforglipron was still in phase 3 trials as of early 2025, with FDA approval not yet granted.

His pricing figures, $149 direct pay and $50 under Medicare Part D starting in July, are also unverifiable. No approved drug matching this description has publicly confirmed pricing at these levels. These numbers may reflect leaked estimates or manufacturer projections, but presenting them as settled is a stretch.

Where he earns credit: he correctly flagged that cardiovascular outcome data is pending, he did not overstate the drug as a cure, and he contextualized it within the broader GLP-1 drug pipeline. His point that oral options reduce barriers for injection-averse patients is clinically valid and supported by patient preference research (Strain et al., 2021, Diabetes Therapy).

What should you actually know?

If orforglipron is what this video is about, here is what the data actually supports right now. Phase 2 results are promising, with roughly 10 to 14.7% weight loss depending on dose, and a convenient oral formulation that does not require food timing, unlike semaglutide oral (Rybelsus), which has strict fasting requirements. That is a real differentiator.

But phase 2 is not phase 3, and phase 3 is not approval. The FDA has not approved this drug. Long-term cardiovascular safety, which took semaglutide years and the landmark SELECT trial (Lincoff et al., 2023, NEJM) to establish, is not yet documented for orforglipron. You should not assume it will replicate those benefits just because it hits the same receptor.

The pricing information in this video should be treated as speculative until confirmed by the manufacturer or pharmacy benefit managers. Anyone making healthcare decisions based on these cost figures should verify them directly with their insurer or pharmacy.

• Orforglipron is an oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning it does not require refrigeration or injection.
• Phase 2 data is promising, but the drug is not FDA-approved as of mid-2025.
• Comparing it to Wegovy's efficacy is premature without head-to-head phase 3 data.
• Cardiovascular and sleep apnea outcome data is not yet available for this compound.
• Pricing figures cited in this video are unconfirmed and should not be used for financial planning.