Eli Lilly’s Orforglipron Achieves 10.5% Weight Loss in Diabetics

Eli Lilly has announced the results of its third phase 3 trial for the oral weight-loss medication orforglipron, paving the way for regulatory submissions worldwide. In the ATTAIN-2 study, which focused on individuals with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes, participants taking the highest dose of 36mg once daily experienced an average weight loss of 10.5% after 72 weeks. The trial also demonstrated improvements in blood glucose control among patients.

This announcement follows a recent decline in Lilly’s stock price, which occurred after the ATTAIN-1 study results were released. The earlier study assessed individuals who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes and reported a lower average weight loss of 12.4% at the same time point. Despite this initial setback, Lilly’s shares rebounded as investors reassessed the findings, recognizing the potential of orforglipron to offer long-term support to patients compared to existing injectable weight-loss therapies, such as Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide).

Encouraging Results for Patients

The results from the ATTAIN-2 study reflect positively on Lilly’s ongoing research into oral treatments for obesity. The findings revealed that patients on orforglipron not only lost significant weight but also improved their metabolic health. Specifically, half of those on the highest dose achieved the goal of losing 10% or more of their body weight. Furthermore, participants in this group experienced a reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels, a critical marker for blood glucose management, with an average decrease of 1.8%.

Notably, around 85% of patients taking the top dose managed to lower their A1c levels to below 7%, which is the target for effective blood sugar control. In addition, 75% of participants achieved even better results, with levels dropping to 6.5% or lower.

Dr. Louis Aronne, an obesity specialist and former president of The Obesity Society, remarked on the implications of these findings, stating, “These data show the potential for orforglipron to offer an efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile consistent with the injectable GLP-1 class.” He highlighted that this oral therapy could expand treatment options for patients who prefer non-injectable methods without sacrificing clinical outcomes.

Competitive Landscape and Future Prospects

Orforglipron is currently ahead of most competitors in the oral medication space. However, Novo Nordisk is also pursuing an oral version of Wegovy, having filed for regulatory approval earlier this year. This potential competitor is based on the OASIS 4 study, which demonstrated a weight loss of 13.6% with a 25mg daily oral dose after 64 weeks. While this result surpassed the weight loss seen with orforglipron, the 50mg formulation, which reportedly achieved a 15.1% reduction, has not been submitted for approval, possibly due to a less favorable side-effect profile.

All GLP-1 medications are known to carry risks of gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting. In the ATTAIN-2 trial, the two lower dosages of orforglipron (6mg and 12mg) resulted in weight losses of 5.5% and 7.8%, respectively, while the placebo group lost 2.2%.

The positive results from the ATTAIN-2 study have had a tangible impact on Eli Lilly’s stock performance, with shares firming by just under 2% in pre-market trading following the announcement. As regulatory filings are anticipated, the implications of orforglipron’s efficacy and safety profile could lead to significant advancements in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes globally.