Eli Lilly's Orforglipron Outperforms Oral Semaglutide in Phase 3 Trial
Key Facts
- •Orforglipron 36 mg lowered A1C by 2.2% compared to 1.4% with oral semaglutide 14 mg.
- •Participants on orforglipron lost 9.2% of body weight compared to 5.3% for the oral semaglutide group.
- •Orforglipron is a small molecule oral GLP-1 that does not require food or water restrictions for administration.
- •Eli Lilly expects potential U.S. regulatory action for the drug in Q2 2026.
Eli Lilly (LLY) announced positive Phase 3 results for its oral GLP-1 candidate, orforglipron, demonstrating superior efficacy over Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide. In the ACHIEVE-3 trial, orforglipron reduced A1C levels by 2.2%, significantly higher than the 1.4% reduction seen with the competitor's treatment. Participants using Lilly's candidate also achieved a 9.2% weight reduction, nearly doubling the 5.3% loss recorded in the semaglutide group. Unlike existing oral treatments, orforglipron is a small molecule that can be taken without specific food or water restrictions, offering a more convenient dosing profile. Eli Lilly anticipates potential U.S. regulatory approval for the drug by the second quarter of 2026, positioning the company to capture a larger share of the multi-billion dollar GLP-1 market.
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