Eli Lilly's Obesity Pill Produces Promising Weight Loss Results

Indianapolis-based Lilly has announced promising results from a late-stage trial of its daily obesity pill, orforglipron. The oral GLP-1 receptor agonist has shown positive results in patients with obesity, resulting in significant weight loss.

Patients taking orforglipron lost almost 12% of their body weight, or roughly 27 pounds, at 72 weeks, study results show. This is compared to participants taking a placebo, who lost just under 1% of their body weight, or roughly 2.2 pounds.

Kenneth Custer, Ph.D., executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health: “With orforglipron, we’re working to transform obesity care by introducing a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments.”

The trial involved 3,127 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related medical problem and without diabetes. Patients took orforglipron in one of three doses: 6 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg.

The highest dose helped nearly 60% of patients lose 10% or more of their body weight, while 39.6% lost at least 15% of their body weight. In addition to significant weight loss, Lilly says orforglipron led to reductions in non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure across all doses.

About 10.5% of patients taking the highest dose of the pill — 36 mg — stopped taking it due to side effects, which included nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Lilly plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by the end of 2025, with additional findings from related trials expected later this year.