Eli Lilly announced on Thursday that its daily obesity pill has successfully met its goals in the initial phase of multiple late-stage trials, aiding patients with Type 2 diabetes in reducing both blood sugar levels and body weight, while demonstrating safety profiles comparable to existing injectable treatments.
The results from these trials are among the most closely monitored in the pharmaceutical sector this year, advancing Eli Lilly’s experimental medication — named orforglipron — toward becoming a viable, needle-free alternative in the rapidly expanding markets for weight loss and diabetes treatments. The convenience and ease of manufacturing this pill could provide Eli Lilly with a significant advantage over Novo Nordisk and other competitors entering this lucrative field.
Earlier studies comparing the pill with existing injectables have indicated that diabetic patients tend to lose less weight than those without diabetes, complicating direct comparisons with obesity-specific medications.
