Timely, evidence-based briefs on developments in women's and hormone health — plus the guides we've most recently refreshed. Each is checked against primary medical sources.
Orforglipron is an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist in late-stage trials. Unlike oral semaglutide it is a small molecule rather than a peptide, so it does not need an absorption enhancer or an empty stomach. Phase 3 results have reported weight loss in the range of the injectables. It is not approved, and nothing sold under the name today is the real drug.
Peptide is a chemistry term, not a category of treatment. Some peptides are FDA-approved drugs with large outcome trials — semaglutide, bremelanotide, teriparatide. Others are sold online as research chemicals with no approval, no dose-finding studies and no verification of what is in the vial. Here is how to tell which is which before deciding anything.
Sermorelin was an FDA-approved drug for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children before it was withdrawn from the market in 2008 for business reasons. It now circulates through compounding pharmacies and wellness clinics for anti-ageing, body composition and sleep — none of which it was approved or tested for in healthy adults.
