Eli Lilly has reported promising results from a late-stage clinical trial of its experimental weight-loss pill, orforglipron, showing significant benefits for adults with type 2 diabetes. The once-daily oral treatment helped patients lose an average of 10.5 percent of their body weight over 72 weeks, while also improving blood sugar control and other key health markers.
Key Findings from the Study
Participants who received the highest 36-milligram dose of the pill lost roughly 23 pounds, compared with about 2 percent weight loss among those given a placebo. Beyond weight reduction, the trial demonstrated strong impacts on blood sugar management: around three-quarters of participants on the top dose reached an A1C level of 6.5 percent or lower, the benchmark for diabetes control.
In addition, patients saw improvements in cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers. However, side effects were common, particularly gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, with about one-third of patients experiencing nausea and nearly a quarter reporting vomiting at higher doses.
A First in Its Class
If approved, orforglipron would become the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist specifically authorized for weight loss. Current leading treatments are injectable drugs, which, while effective, can be costly and inconvenient for many patients. A pill could dramatically expand access, lower production costs, and appeal to people hesitant about injections.
Competitive and Market Impact
The results are seen as a major win for Lilly, positioning the company strongly against its chief rival, Novo Nordisk, which has also been developing an oral weight-loss therapy. In recent studies, Novo’s pill showed a weight loss of around 9 percent among patients with diabetes—slightly less than Lilly’s results.
The obesity and diabetes drug market is projected to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade, and a successful oral option could reshape the competitive landscape. Investors reacted positively to the news, offering a partial recovery for Lilly’s stock, which had faced pressure earlier this year following weaker results in non-diabetic patients.
What Comes Next
Lilly plans to seek regulatory approval for orforglipron later this year, with hopes of launching the pill in major markets as early as 2026. If approved, the drug could become a cornerstone in global efforts to tackle obesity and diabetes—conditions that affect over one billion people worldwide.
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