The 2026 to 2028 Obesity Drug Pipeline: A Patient's Map
New weight-loss drugs are arriving fast, and the headlines blur what is real. Here is an honest map: what is FDA-approved now, what is still investigational, and what you can start today.
The short version
Two notable oral drugs are now FDA-approved and on the market: the oral Wegovy pill (approved December 2025) and orforglipron, branded Foundayo (approved April 1, 2026). Everything else getting headlines, including retatrutide, CagriSema, survodutide, MariTide, petrelintide, and pemvidutide, is still investigational. Investigational means not FDA-approved, not for sale, and not available at any legitimate clinic, including ours. You can learn about all of them here, but no honest clinic can sell you the investigational ones.
Approved and on the market now
Ready to start?
$199 Skeptics’ Trial, see if it works for you
One month of medical-grade compounded semaglutide, the $119 doctor review, and a free B-12/lipotropic injection. No long-term commitment.
Start the 30-day trial- Oral Wegovy (semaglutide pill). FDA-approved December 22, 2025. A daily tablet of the same active drug as the Wegovy injection, with fasting-and-timing rules. OASIS 4 reported about 16.6% average loss at 64 weeks if maintained. See our oral Wegovy vs injection explainer.
- Orforglipron (Foundayo). FDA-approved April 1, 2026. The first once-daily small-molecule (not a peptide) oral GLP-1, with no food or timing rules. ATTAIN-1 showed roughly 11 to 12% average loss at 72 weeks. See our Foundayo explainer.
Investigational, the most-watched names
- Retatrutide (Lilly). A triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon weekly injection. Per Lilly's May 21, 2026 press release, TRIUMPH-1 reported about 28.3% loss at 80 weeks on the 12 mg dose. No FDA filing yet. Investigational. Read the full explainer.
- CagriSema (Novo). Cagrilintide plus semaglutide, weekly. Strong loss (about 23% in REDEFINE 4 at 84 weeks) but it missed its non-inferiority endpoint against tirzepatide 15 mg. NDA filed. Investigational. Read more.
- Survodutide (Boehringer/Zealand). A GLP-1/glucagon dual with a liver (MASH) program; SYNCHRONIZE-1 reported about 16.6% at 76 weeks. Investigational.
- MariTide (Amgen). A once-monthly injection in Phase 3 (MARITIME). The convenience of monthly dosing is the draw. Investigational.
- Petrelintide (Zealand/Roche). A long-acting amylin analog with double-digit loss and placebo-like tolerability in Phase 2; Phase 3 began in late 2026. Investigational.
- Pemvidutide (Altimmune). A GLP-1/glucagon dual; MOMENTUM reported about 15.6% at 48 weeks with a high share of loss from fat. Investigational.
What this means for you
The pipeline is exciting, but two cautions matter. First, every approval date and price for an investigational drug is a projection, not a promise, and manufacturers themselves say approval is not guaranteed. Second, anyone selling an investigational drug today, or taking your deposit for one, is not credible and may be offering an unsafe grey-market product. The right move is to work with a licensed physician on what is actually available now, and stay informed as genuinely new options clear the FDA.
What you can start today at New Hope Weight Loss
What a licensed clinic can legitimately offer right now is physician-supervised, compounded GLP-1 care. After a one-time $119 medical review with Dr. Sharma, eligible patients receive compounded semaglutide from $166 a month or compounded tirzepatide from $233 a month, with a $199 one-month Skeptics' Trial if you want to test the waters first. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are prepared by licensed U.S. pharmacies and are not FDA-approved, not brand-identical, and not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Care is delivered in person in Orange County and by telehealth across California and additional states.
Frequently asked questions
Which new weight-loss drugs are FDA-approved in 2026?
Two notable oral drugs: the oral Wegovy pill (semaglutide, approved December 2025) and orforglipron, branded Foundayo (approved April 1, 2026). The other names in the news, including retatrutide, CagriSema, survodutide, MariTide, petrelintide, and pemvidutide, are still investigational and not for sale.
Is retatrutide or CagriSema available yet?
No. Both are investigational. They are not FDA-approved, not for sale, and not offered at any legitimate clinic, including New Hope Weight Loss. They are only accessible through the manufacturers' clinical trials. Any site selling them is offering an unapproved product.
Should I wait for a new drug instead of starting now?
That is a personal decision to make with a physician, but waiting on an investigational drug means waiting on an uncertain date that may be years away and is not guaranteed. Many people start with an available, physician-supervised option now and reassess as new drugs are approved.
Is orforglipron a peptide?
No. Orforglipron (Foundayo) is a small molecule, not a peptide. That is a key technical distinction and part of why it can be taken as a simple once-daily pill without food or timing restrictions.
What can New Hope Weight Loss offer me today?
Physician-supervised compounded semaglutide from $166 a month or compounded tirzepatide from $233 a month after a $119 medical review, with a $199 one-month trial option. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved or brand-identical, and your physician confirms whether they are appropriate for you.
This article is informational only and not medical advice. Speak with a licensed physician before starting or changing any GLP-1 therapy. Individual results vary. New Hope Weight Loss is a physician-supervised medical weight loss clinic in Costa Mesa, CA. Eligibility for treatment is determined during the medical consultation. Compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide are not the same products as Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, or Zepbound®.