A new once-daily weight-loss pill has demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing both body weight and blood sugar levels in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, positioning it as a potential oral alternative to popular injectable medications.
According to results released Thursday by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, participants who took a 36mg daily dose of orforglipron lost an average of 7.3kg (16lbs) over a nine-month period in a Phase 3 clinical trial.
The multinational study enrolled 559 obese individuals with type 2 diabetes from the United States, China, India, Japan, and Mexico. Researchers observed that the oral medication not only facilitated weight loss but also significantly reduced blood glucose levels, with some participants seeing improvements that brought their readings below the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.
Trial Results Show Dose-Dependent Benefits
The 40-week trial evaluated three different dosages of orforglipron (3mg, 12mg, and 36mg), revealing a dose-dependent response in both weight reduction and glycemic control. Participants experienced average weight reductions of 4.5% on the 3mg dose, 5.8% on the 12mg dose, and 7.6% on the 36mg dose.
Blood sugar improvements were similarly impressive, with HbA1c reductions ranging from 1.2% to 1.5% across the different dosage groups. These results suggest that orforglipron could offer meaningful clinical benefits for patients managing both obesity and diabetes.
David Ricks, Eli Lilly's Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the potential impact of an oral GLP-1 agonist: "As a convenient once-daily pill, orforglipron may provide a new option and, if approved, could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world."
Expanding Treatment Options Beyond Injectables
Orforglipron represents a significant development in metabolic disease management as it belongs to the GLP-1 agonist class—the same mechanism behind blockbuster injectable treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy—but in a more convenient oral formulation.
Health officials believe that daily pill versions of these medications could dramatically expand access to effective weight and blood sugar management therapies. This is particularly relevant in regions like Britain, where two-thirds of adults are either overweight or living with obesity, and more than 5 million people have type 2 diabetes.
"These are important results," said Naveed Sattar, a professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow. "Having new oral agents that lower glucose but also meaningfully lower weight well beyond levels seen with most existing diabetes therapies is critical to future type 2 diabetes care."
Professor Sattar added a note of caution: "Of course, one caveat is that we do not know the effects of this newer therapy on cardiovascular outcomes, but this will be forthcoming in future trials."
Regulatory Timeline and Market Implications
The complete results from the trial will be presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in June before publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Eli Lilly has announced plans to apply for regulatory approval to market orforglipron for weight management later this year, followed by an application for type 2 diabetes treatment next year.
If approved, orforglipron would enter a rapidly expanding market for metabolic disease treatments. The development of oral GLP-1 agonists could potentially address some of the supply constraints and accessibility issues that have affected injectable versions of these medications.
Alternative Approaches to Weight Management
While Eli Lilly advances orforglipron, other companies are exploring different approaches to weight management. Oxford Medical Products recently reported positive three-month clinical trial results for Sirona, a dual-polymer hydrogel pill that physically expands in the stomach to reduce appetite.
In trials conducted across three NHS hospitals, Sirona helped participants with class 1 obesity lose an average of 6.3% of their total body weight. The treatment led to participants consuming approximately 400 fewer calories per day compared to those on placebo.
Dr. Asif Humayun, an NHS endocrinologist, described Sirona as "a new generation in weight-loss therapeutics, specifically for obese patients and their resulting comorbidities."
These developments highlight the growing diversification of weight management approaches, potentially offering healthcare providers and patients a broader range of options tailored to different needs and preferences.
