Lilly’s Daily Pill Shows Promise for Diabetes and Weight Loss

Eli Lilly has announced that its new daily pill, Orforglypron, significantly lowers blood sugar and helps people with type 2 diabetes lose weight. The drug belongs to the GLP-1 class, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, but is taken orally. In a phase 3 clinical trial, Orforglypron lowered A1c levels, a key measure of blood sugar, by 1.6 percent after 40 weeks. More than 65 percent of participants reached readings of 6.5 percent or lower, the threshold for diabetes control. The drug also helped patients lose weight. Those on the highest dose lost an average of 16 pounds, or nearly 8 percent of their body weight. Dr. Christopher McGowan, a weight loss specialist not involved in the study, called the results very encouraging. Some patients are hesitant to start an injectable therapy, no matter how effective it is, McGowan said. Having a pill as an option could reduce that barrier.