Meanwhile, Eli Lilly is set to announce the first results from late-stage clinical trials for its experimental once-daily obesity pill, orforglipron. How this breakthrough could change the way we treat weight loss! The pharmaceutical giant’s quest for an oral alternative to injectable weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound has raised hopes and head-turns in recent months. After promising trial results, as the company takes this key step toward regenerative agriculture,

Further, orforglipron’s development would deepen Eli Lilly’s grip on the fast-growing weight loss market. Analyst Seamus Fernandez of Guggenheim calculates this market could reach $50 billion for oral GLP-1s alone. The company looks to be off to a great start. In 2024, it made more than $45 billion, largely on the back of its robust diabetes and obesity drug portfolio. Eli Lilly is currently the front-runner in the oral race for weight loss solutions, leading by roughly three years. Other drugmakers like Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Roche, Structure Therapeutics, and Viking Therapeutics are racing to bring their products to market.

The upcoming trial results could have significant effects on patients, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. If successful, it could change the treatment landscape for obesity completely. This newly introduced alternative would be far more accessible and convenient for the millions of people experiencing this challenge. The outcomes will be pivotal in deciding its efficacy, safety profile, and overall effect on the market.

In a phase two trial, overweight and obese patients received 36 milligrams of orforglipron once daily. After 36 weeks, they achieved an outstanding average weight loss of 13.5% of their starting body weight. During the trial, the highest tested dose of orforglipron was 45mg. Researchers wanted to find out how effective and tolerable it was.

Orforglipron should compete with Wegovy on weight loss. Orforglipron should be very comparable. Real-world data and head-to-head trials show that Zepbound, another injectable medication, is usually more effective. The convenience of an oral pill could place orforglipron in a more patient-friendly position to be the preferred choice for a larger population.

Beyond efficacy, one of the other major advantages of orforglipron is its administration. Unlike injectable medications like Zepbound and Wegovy, which require patients to follow specific instructions for storage and injection, orforglipron can be taken orally, similar to any other daily pill.

offer peace of mind because I don't have to think much about taking it. - Willow Baillies

This ease of use could significantly improve patient adherence and make weight loss treatment more accessible to a wider population, including those in primary care settings who may not currently be receiving treatment.

Eli Lilly’s new pill is not a peptide medication, distinguishing it from Zepbound, Wegovy and most other injectable medications. Researchers are still working to determine what the exact meaning of this difference is. It could turn a novel compound’s mechanism of action, side effect profile and overall effectiveness on its head.

Despite these potential advantages, orforglipron has several disadvantages. Leerink’s Risinger noted that the inducing phase two trial was associated with higher rates of nausea and vomiting among patients receiving orforglipron. In contrast, patients on the 2-milligram dose of semaglutide reported far fewer rates of these side effects in a phase three trial.

Other analysts have provided somewhat less panic-inducing reports on the drug’s tolerance profile.

tolerability worse than Zepbound but closer to Wegovy - Schott

The company’s soaring financial fortunes are a result of the firm’s overwhelming dominance of the diabetes and obesity markets. Eli Lilly, that’s what—now the largest pharmaceutical and health-care company in the world by market capitalization. As of Monday, that made its market value worth a whopping $814 billion.

The introduction of orforglipron could further expand the weight loss drug market by reaching more patients in primary care settings.

What we're going to see over the next couple of years is that we're moving away from one-size-fits-all products to more customized products that are more directly aligned to the profile of the patient. - Seigerman

Personalized treatment options have the potential to transform how we approach obesity. As a result, healthcare providers are better equipped to create treatment plans specific to their patients’ lifestyles, needs, and preferences.

The recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lift restrictions on compounding pharmacies producing unapproved versions of Zepbound could impact the market landscape. After the shortage was officially declared over by the FDA in December, the ban on compounding was restored.

For patients trying to decide on the best weight loss medications for their needs, cost and efficacy are two big considerations.

definitely consider taking a pill if it was less expensive than Zepbound and had "equal efficacy or better." - Jill Skala

Pricing of orforglipron will be important to its market uptake. Therefore, the cost of new medications can easily be a barrier to patients. Given the clinical profile of orforglipron, analysts think its value proposition may be enough to warrant a premium price.

typically priced by the value that they bring, regardless of the route of administration - Risinger

The expected release of Eli Lilly’s entire trial data has created momentum and hope for the industry, which is galvanized by big Pharma.

good indicator that they are comfortable with what they're seeing across the trials - BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman

Despite the optimism surrounding orforglipron, potential risks and challenges remain.

very low probability of any issues that could put the entire development program for orforglipron at risk. - Schott

Thus, Orforglipron is another remarkable step forward in sustainable long-term obesity treatment. Yet its potential to improve our public health is enormous.

This could join a growing toolbox of medications for obesity, and it could be a game-changer - Dr. Eduardo Grunvald