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Eli Lilly is moving closer to bringing its experimental weight loss pill, orforglipron, to market after releasing positive results from its latest phase 3 clinical trial. The study, called Attain-2, tested the once-daily pill in people who are overweight or obese and also have Type 2 diabetes—a group often harder to treat.
The trial found that patients taking the highest dose of orforglipron (36 mg) lost an average of 10.5% of their body weight, or about 23 pounds, over 72 weeks. By comparison, patients who received a placebo lost just 5 pounds on average. More than half of participants on the highest dose shed at least 10% of their body weight, and nearly 30% lost 15% or more—results similar to injectable GLP-1 drugs like Lilly’s Zepbound.
Orforglipron also helped patients improve their blood sugar control, with average A1C levels dropping by 1.8 points, and showed benefits across heart-related risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure. The most common side effects were mild to moderate stomach issues.
This data, combined with results from another trial (Attain-1), gives Lilly the complete package needed to seek regulatory approval later this year. If approved, orforglipron would be the first widely available oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss—a potential game-changer for patients who prefer pills over injections.
Analysts say the drug’s strong results, combined with its convenient dosing and safety profile, could make it highly competitive in the growing obesity drug market. Investors seem optimistic too, with Lilly’s stock rising nearly 3% after the news.
Beyond weight loss, Lilly is also studying whether orforglipron can help patients maintain weight loss after using injectable treatments.
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