Lilly's Foundayo Pill Cuts Heart, Stroke Risk in Study

Eli Lilly has reported encouraging results from a late-stage clinical trial of its oral drug Foundayo pill, showing it can lower the risk of serious heart-related events like heart attack and stroke risk. The findings suggest the pill could offer benefits beyond weight loss, especially for people dealing with both type 2 diabetes and heart risks.

The Phase 3 study involved over 2,700 patients across different countries. These participants had type 2 diabetes and were either overweight or obese, with a higher chance of cardiovascular risk. The results showed that Foundayo reduced the overall risk of major events — including cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, or hospitalization due to chest pain — by 16% compared to insulin glargine, a commonly used long-acting insulin.

The study also found a significant 57% drop in all-cause mortality during the trial period. While this was part of a planned analysis, it highlights the broader potential health impact of the drug.

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Foundayo, also known as orforglipron, belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 drugs. These medicines help control blood sugar levels and reduce appetite. What makes Foundayo stand out is that it comes as a once-daily oral obesity drug, unlike many similar treatments that require injections. This could make it a more convenient option for patients.

Along with reducing cardiovascular risks, the drug showed strong improvements in blood sugar control and body weight over 52 weeks. Patients taking Foundayo experienced noticeable weight loss treatment benefits, while those on insulin treatment saw slight weight gain.

Another key takeaway from the trial was the absence of major liver safety concerns, which had been a point of attention earlier. This adds to confidence in the drug’s safety profile.

With demand growing for simpler and more effective treatments for diabetes and obesity, Foundayo could become a strong alternative in the market. Eli Lilly is expected to move forward with regulatory steps to expand its use for diabetes treatment later this year.