Eli Lilly has made a significant breakthrough in diabetes treatment with their new drug, Orforglipron, which is taken as a daily pill. They’ve successfully finished a phase 3 trial, and the results are promising. The ACHIEVE-1 trial focused on how well this drug works for adults with type 2 diabetes who haven’t been able to control their blood sugar through diet and exercise alone.
The study revealed that Orforglipron helps lower blood sugar levels significantly. Patients saw their A1C, a measure of blood sugar, drop by 1.3% to 1.6%. More than 65% of those on the highest dose achieved an A1C of 6.5% or lower, which is the goal for managing diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association.
Participants in the trial also experienced weight loss, shedding an average of 16 pounds or about 7.9% of their body weight. The study ended before the participants reached a weight loss plateau, indicating more weight could potentially be lost. Orforglipron comes from Eli Lilly, the same company that brought us Mounjaro and Zepbound.
The trial showed that Orforglipron’s safety and tolerability are on par with existing injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Eli Lilly is hopeful about getting the green light from the FDA, which would allow them to distribute the drug globally without any supply issues.
Eli Lilly’s mission is to combat chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is expected to affect 760 million adults by 2050. David A. Ricks, the chair and CEO of Eli Lilly, expressed satisfaction with the trial outcomes, saying, “We are pleased to see that our latest incretin medicine meets our expectations for safety and tolerability, glucose control and weight loss.”
Orforglipron, if approved, could be a game-changer as a convenient once-daily pill instead of an injection. Eli Lilly plans to make it widely available and aims to submit it for approval for weight management by 2025 and for diabetes treatment by 2026.
The new pill could offer a simpler alternative for people managing diabetes and weight, broadening treatment options. Eli Lilly is optimistic about the impact this drug could have worldwide. The successful trial of Orforglipron marks a step forward in the fight against diabetes and obesity.
