Eli Lilly’s experimental pill, orforglipron, is making waves in the pharmaceutical world after posting strong results in a major Phase 3 clinical trial. Unlike existing weight loss treatments that require injections, this new drug is taken orally, once a day, and may soon offer a convenient alternative for millions struggling with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Results Show Significant Weight Loss
In the trial, patients taking the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of 16 pounds over 40 weeks — nearly 8 percent of their body weight. These results were observed in people with Type 2 diabetes who had not previously used anti-diabetic medications. More than 65 percent of participants on the highest dose achieved blood sugar levels below the American Diabetes Association’s target of 6.5 percent A1C.
Lilly noted that weight loss had not yet plateaued at the end of the study, suggesting even more weight reduction could be possible with continued treatment. At the same time, patients saw significant improvements in blood sugar control, with A1C reductions ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 percent, depending on the dose.
How It Stacks Up to Injectables
Orforglipron works by targeting the GLP-1 receptor, which helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. This is the same hormone system targeted by popular injectable drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
While injections like Mounjaro have shown weight reductions as high as 22 percent over longer trials, orforglipron’s 7.9 percent reduction over 40 weeks compares well with Ozempic, which has shown weight loss of about 6 percent over a similar timeframe. Importantly, orforglipron achieves this as a daily pill — a key factor that could make it far more appealing and accessible to the public.
A Growing Market and Lilly’s Lead
The market for obesity treatments is booming. Analysts estimate that weight loss drug sales could reach $150 billion in the coming years. With most competitors still in early development stages for similar pills, Eli Lilly appears to be well ahead.
Novo Nordisk, maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, offers one oral GLP-1 drug, Rybelsus, which is approved only for diabetes and delivers more modest weight loss. Pfizer recently abandoned its own weight loss pill due to safety concerns. That puts Lilly in a strong position to dominate the oral GLP-1 category — at least for the next few years.
David Risinger, an analyst at Leerink Partners, predicted that “they will be the only company with an easy-to-manufacture oral GLP-1 for potentially close to three years ahead of new competitors.”
Safety and Side Effects
The most common side effects in the orforglipron trial were gastrointestinal, including diarrhea, nausea, indigestion, constipation, and vomiting. These were similar to those seen with injectable GLP-1 drugs and were generally mild to moderate. Roughly 8 percent of participants on the highest dose stopped treatment due to side effects, compared with just 1 percent on placebo.
Crucially, no liver-related issues were observed — a major concern in this drug class, especially after Pfizer pulled its pill from development over a possible case of drug-induced liver injury.
Kevin Gade, COO at Bahl & Gaynor, called the results “fantastic from an efficacy standpoint,” and other analysts echoed that confidence, saying the safety profile looked “tolerable” and manageable for wide use.
What’s Next for Orforglipron?
Eli Lilly is preparing to seek regulatory approval for weight loss by the end of this year, followed by a separate submission in 2026 for diabetes treatment. If all goes smoothly, the pill could reach the U.S. market in the second half of next year.
The company has already stockpiled nearly $550 million worth of orforglipron inventory, hoping to avoid the supply shortages that have plagued injectable drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
Lilly is also conducting additional studies on orforglipron involving over 10,000 people worldwide. These include patients with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even sleep apnea. More results from these trials are expected later this year and in 2026.
A Pill That Could Expand the Weight Loss Market
Even though injectable GLP-1 drugs are expected to remain popular, a successful pill could open up the market to many more people. Some patients may prefer weekly shots, but a large number may choose a daily pill for its simplicity.
“This expands the pie, rather than replacing it,” said Evan Seigerman of BMO Capital Markets. Lilly CEO David Ricks also emphasized the potential scale, saying, “If approved, orforglipron could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world.”
A Small Investment, Big Payoff
The drug was originally developed by Chugai Pharmaceutical Company in Japan. Lilly licensed the rights in 2018 for just $50 million — a relatively small investment for a treatment that could soon generate billions in annual revenue.
With global obesity rates rising and diabetes expected to affect over 760 million people by 2050, orforglipron may turn out to be one of the most important new drugs of the decade.
