Lilly's Oral Obesity Drug Shows Promise in Phase-III Diabetes Trial

• Oral GLP-1 drug Orforglipron showed up to 7.9% weight loss in trials
• Complements Lilly's expanding diabetes portfolio after Mounjaro's India success
• Regulatory filing expected by late 2025, with approvals anticipated from 2026

Building on the strong momentum of Mounjaro’s rollout in India, Eli Lilly has reported encouraging clinical trial results for its oral anti-obesity drug, Orforglipron. The new once-daily pill, part of the same GLP-1 drug class as Mounjaro and Zepbound, demonstrated significant weight loss and blood sugar reduction in patients with type-2 diabetes during a 40-week Phase-III trial.

This development follows Lilly’s earlier statement highlighting the positive market response to Mounjaro in India and its plans for deeper market penetration. Orforglipron could further bolster the company’s diabetes and obesity portfolio by offering a non-injectable alternative, potentially increasing compliance and accessibility among patients.

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The trial tested three dosages—3 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg—and found all effective in lowering blood sugar. The 12 mg and 36 mg doses also led to meaningful weight loss, with the highest dose achieving an average 7.9% reduction over 40 weeks.

Results were announced at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Lilly aims to submit the trial data to regulators by the end of 2025, eyeing approval from 2026 onward.