A daily weight-loss pill could transform GLP-1 boom
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A new oral GLP-1 drug candidate could transform the diabetes and weight loss drug boom.
Why it matters: Eli Lilly said on Thursday that its experimental pill — called orforglipron — is showing promising results and could serve as an alternative to blockbuster injectable medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
GLP-1s role in obesity fight
How it works: The appetite-suppressing drugs are called GLP-1 agonists and mimic the action of a hormone.
- They can increase insulin sensitivity, delay the time it takes to empty the stomach and curb hunger.
- This helps manage diabetes and can lead to weight loss
What is Lilly GLP-1 pill orforglipron?
The big picture: Lilly — which makes the diabetes drug Mounjaro and the weight-loss treatment Zepbound — said orforglipron is "the first oral small molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, taken without food and water restrictions, to successfully complete a Phase 3 trial."
- The company says it's running studies on orforglipron for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem.
- There are three doses being tested 3 mg, 12 mg and 36 mg.
GLP-1 pill trial results for A1C, weight loss
Zoom in: Positive Phase 3 trial results over 40 weeks for the oral medication orforglipron include:
- Lowering A1C by an average of 1.3% to 1.6% across doses.
- Reduced weight by an average of 16 pounds (7.9%) at the highest dose.
- People without diabetes are expected to lose more weight on the drug.
New GLP-1 matches injectable drugs, Lilly says
Between the lines: Orforglipron "meets our expectations for safety and tolerability," matching injectable GLP-1 drugs' safety profile, Lilly CEO David Ricks said in a statement.
- "The demand is great, and it would be so much easier for people to take than using the injection," Marianne Udow-Phillips, a health industry consultant and senior adviser to the University of Michigan Center for Health and Research, tells Axios.
The other side: Lilly's Zepbound weight loss drug had a higher percentage of weight loss in a 72-week study of adults without diabetes, ranging from 15.3% to 36.2%, data shows.
Will a pill reduce weight loss drug shortages?
State of play: Lilly said if it's approved, the company is "confident in its ability to launch orforglipron worldwide without supply constraints."
- The popularity of weight loss injectables has led to global shortages and copycat weight-loss drugs by compounders.
- "As a convenient once-daily pill, orforglipron may provide a new option and, if approved, could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world," Ricks said.
When will new obesity drug be available?
What's next: Lilly said it expects to deliver further results this year and to request regulatory approval for the drug for weight management in 2025 and for diabetes treatment in 2026.
- It's also being studied as a potential treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in adults with obesity, the company said.
Oral semaglutide Rybelsus approved for diabetes
Rybelsus is the first oral GLP-1 and is made by Novo Nordisk.
- This drug contains semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Rybelsus is currently approved for Type 2 diabetes and was approved in 2019.
Yes, but: Rybelsus must be taken daily on an empty stomach, with no eating, drinking or taking other medications for at least 30 minutes, according to the drug's website.
Pfizer weight loss drug status
Zoom out: Pfizer said Monday that it's discontinuing development of its own oral GLP-1 drug danuglipron after a patient in a clinical trial suffered a liver injury that may have been connected with the treatment.
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