A groundbreaking daily pill could compete with weight-loss injections such as Ozempic, research suggests.

In trials, people taking the medication orforglipron lost an average of 16lbs in nine months.

Participants, all of whom were obese and had Type 2 diabetes, also saw significant falls in their blood sugar.

The phase III trial paves the way for manufacturers to seek a licence for the drug as a treatment for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

The use of daily pills could transform Britain’s weight problem, in which two in three adults are obese or overweight.

Manufacturers Lilly said the once-a-day pill could be launched “at scale” across the world, if approved by licensing bodies, becoming a convenient option for those who do not like injections.