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An experimental GLP-1 pill from Eli Lilly just outperformed Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide. In a new study, Eli Lilly’s oral pill, orforglipron, helped patients lose more weight and control their blood sugar better than Novo Nordisk’s drugs (sold under brand names Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy).
According to a Sept. 16 press release, three separate doses of the new drug (6 milligrams, 12 milligrams, and 36 milligrams) demonstrated “significant improvements” in body weight reduction compared with a placebo at 72 weeks.
“Obesity is a complex, global health challenge—and patients need treatment options that are both effective and easy to integrate into everyday life,” Dr. Sean Wharton, director at Wharton Medical Clinic and the study’s lead investigator, said in the release.
Wharton continued: “In this phase 3 study, orforglipron demonstrated strong efficacy results and safety consistent with the GLP-1 class, reinforcing its potential as a first-line treatment in primary care. Additionally, orforglipron could help reduce known markers of cardiovascular risk associated with obesity and support meaningful improvements in public health.”
Notably, the highest dose of the new drug by Eli Lilly lowered hemoglobin A1c more than Novo Nordisk’s drug, semaglutide, bringing it down by 1.9 percentage points compared with 1.5 percentage points. Similarly, the new drug worked better for weight loss, with an 8.2% reduction compared with 5.3% for Novo Nordisk’s drug.
According to the release, Eli Lilly is advancing the drug toward regulatory submissions. The company said it anticipates it will be submitted for treatment of type 2 diabetes next year. However, experts say the new drug could be fast-tracked under the Food and Drug Administration’s new Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher Pilot Program. The standard review takes 10 months, but under the pilot program, it could be available in two.
“People living with obesity have broad and varied needs—whether it’s improving weight, A1c, lipids, blood pressure, or other health markers that primary care physicians routinely address with their patients,” said neuroscientist Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health.
Custer continued: “We’re encouraged to see orforglipron improve many of these areas in ATTAIN-1 [the phase 3 clinical trial]. As a convenient, once-daily pill that can be scaled globally, orforglipron could be ideally suited for early adoption in primary care—where proactive intervention has the potential to lead to meaningful, long-term health improvements.”
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Sarah Bregel is a writer, editor, and single mom living in Baltimore. She’s contributed to New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Vice, InStyle, Slate, Parents, and others.