Eli Lilly's Obesity Pill Orforglipron Shows 12% Weight Loss, Trails Novo Nordisk

Eli Lilly's obesity pill orforglipron showed around 12% weight loss in a Phase 3 trial, but fell short of expectations and trailed Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. The trial included over 3,000 obese patients without diabetes and all three doses met primary and secondary endpoints compared to placebo. Lilly plans to submit orforglipron to global regulatory agencies by year-end.

Title: Eli Lilly's Obesity Pill Orforglipron Falls Short of Expectations in Phase 3 Trial

Eli Lilly's experimental oral medication, orforglipron, demonstrated significant weight loss in a Phase 3 trial, but failed to meet market expectations and trailed Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. The trial, ATTAIN-1, included over 3,100 obese patients without diabetes, with all three doses of orforglipron meeting primary and secondary endpoints compared to placebo. The drug showed an average weight loss of 27.3 pounds over 72 weeks, equating to approximately 12.4% of body weight. Despite the positive results, Eli Lilly's shares dropped by about 13.9% on Thursday morning following the announcement, reflecting investor disappointment [1].

The trial, conducted by Eli Lilly, evaluated orforglipron's efficacy and safety in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition. The drug, which is a small molecule oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, showed significant efficacy and a safety profile consistent with injectable GLP-1 therapies. Participants taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of 27.3 pounds, with 59.6% of participants achieving at least 10% weight loss and 39.6% achieving at least 15% weight loss [2].

However, the results did not meet the high expectations set by investors, as orforglipron trailed Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, which has shown even more significant weight loss in similar trials. The drug also faced challenges with side effects, with gastrointestinal issues being the most common, affecting about 10% of participants taking the highest dose [1].

Eli Lilly plans to submit orforglipron to global regulatory agencies by the end of the year, which could see the drug available to consumers by 2026. The company is also preparing for a global launch to address the urgent public health need of obesity. Despite the setback, the pill's convenience and accessibility could make it a significant advancement in obesity treatment, as it can be taken any time of the day without food or water restrictions [2].

References:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/eli-lilly-weight-loss-pill-trial/
[2] https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/lillys-oral-glp-1-orforglipron-delivers-weight-loss-of-up-to-an-average-of-27-3-lbs-in-first-of-two-pivotal-phase-3-trials-in-adults-with-obesity