Eli Lilly has disclosed that a new daily pill has been developed, which effectively reduces blood sugar levels and promotes weight loss in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. The experimental pill, termed orforglipron, belongs to the GLP-1 drug class, similar to popular medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. Unlike its counterparts, orforglipron is administered orally, not by weekly injection. Dr. Dan Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific officer, explained that while GLP-1 drugs are commonly known as injectables, they have formulated orforglipron into a pill form.
Pending approval, Lilly’s medication would be the second oral GLP-1 drug accessible in the U.S., after Novo Nordisk’s Rybelsus. The company reported that in a phase 3 clinical trial, orforglipron decreased A1C levels by 1.6% compared to a placebo after 40 weeks. Additionally, over 65% of participants taking orforglipron achieved A1C levels at or below 6.5% by the end of the study period. Those who received the highest dosage of the drug experienced weight loss of up to 16 pounds, or 7.9% of their body weight.
Lilly intends to publish the full trial results in a peer-reviewed journal and present them at the American Diabetes Association conference in June. Physicians like Dr. Christopher McGowan have expressed optimism about Lilly’s findings, noting the pill’s potential advantages over injectables. The company is also exploring the effectiveness of orforglipron for weight loss in individuals without Type 2 diabetes, with early results showing significant weight reduction.
Dr. Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist from Duke Health, raised concerns regarding potential drug interactions with orforglipron, similar to those seen with Rybelsus. Lilly has stated that phase 3 results from the weight loss trial will be released later this year, with plans to submit the drug for FDA approval as a weight loss treatment by the end of 2025 and as a diabetes treatment in 2026.
