Eli Lilly’s weight loss pill, orforglipron, has met its goals in the first of several late-stage trials on diabetes patients. The daily pill helped Type 2 diabetes patients lower their blood sugar and body weight, with some results comparable to Wall Street’s expectations. However, it fell short of some analysts’ estimates for a key diabetes metric.
The trial data showed that the highest dose of orforglipron helped patients lose an average of 7.9% of their weight, or around 16 pounds, after 40 weeks. Patients saw no plateau in their weight loss by the end of the study, suggesting they could continue to lose weight beyond that period.
Side effects were mainly gastrointestinal, such as nausea and vomiting, but were mild to moderate in severity. The discontinuation rate for patients taking the highest dose was 8%, which is slightly higher than expected.
Despite missing some analysts’ estimates, Eli Lilly’s CEO David Ricks said the company is “pleased” with the results, citing safety and tolerability comparable to popular injections on the market. Seven late-stage studies are ongoing, including five diabetes trials and two obesity studies, with regulatory approval expected by the end of 2025 for obesity and 2026 for diabetes.
If approved, orforglipron could give Eli Lilly a major edge in the growing weight loss and diabetes market. The pill’s convenience and ease of manufacture make it an attractive option, potentially solidifying Eli Lilly’s dominance in the segment as competitors develop similar products.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/17/eli-lilly-weight-loss-pill-orforglipron-clears-first-late-stage-trial.html