Eli Lilly is set to release crucial data on its weight loss pill, orforglipron, which could significantly impact the growing weight loss drug market. The company plans to disclose initial results from several late-stage clinical trials this year, including five studies on patients with Type 2 diabetes and two trials on people with obesity in 2025.
Analysts anticipate the pill to be as effective, safe, and tolerable as Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, found in Wegovy and Ozempic. The trial results are among the most critical in the pharmaceutical industry this year, bringing Eli Lilly’s drug closer to becoming a needle-free alternative for weight loss and diabetes.
Dr. Eduardo Grunvald from UC San Diego’s Center for Advanced Weight Management noted that this could be a game-changer, joining a growing toolbox of medications for obesity. If it enters the market, orforglipron could help alleviate supply shortfalls of current injections and solidify Eli Lilly’s dominance in the segment.
Eli Lilly’s pill works similarly to Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus, targeting the GLP-1 gut hormone to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar. Unlike these medications, Eli Lilly’s pill is not a peptide, making it easier to absorb without dietary restrictions.
It remains unclear whether orforglipron will have a high list price similar to current injections or help expand insurance coverage. Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks mentioned the pill could receive U.S. regulatory approval as early as 2026.
Eli Lilly’s pill could benefit patients who prefer a once-daily pill over injections, those afraid of needles, and patients in countries without resources for cold supply chains needed for GLP-1 injections.
Several late-stage trials are underway, including ACHIEVE-1, ACHIEVE-5, ACHIEVE-J, ACHIEVE-3, ACHIEVE-4, and ACHIEVE-2, focusing on different aspects of orforglipron’s efficacy and safety.
— news from CNBC
