Eli Lilly shares jumped 15% after a clinical trial of its experimental pill showed it helped patients with Type 2 diabetes lose weight at levels comparable to leading injectable medications like Ozempic.
The mid-stage trial results announced on Thursday by the pharmaceutical giant showed that patients taking orforglipron lost an average of 16 pounds — or 7.9% of their body weight — over a 26-week period.
That outcome compares favorably to Novo Nordisk’s widely prescribed Ozempic, which helped diabetic patients lose around 6% of their body weight at its highest approved dose.
Eli Lilly saw its shares jump by 15% on Thursday after unveiling positive results from a clinical trial of its experimental oral drug. REUTERS
Lilly’s stock was recently up 14% at $838.80 in Thursday trading.
“This represents a potentially major advance for patients seeking a needle-free option for weight and glucose management,” Eli Lilly said in a statement on Thursday.
The drug also lowered patients’ blood sugar levels by 1.3% on average.
While this reduction was slightly below the 2.1% drop seen with Ozempic, the overall efficacy of orforglipron in promoting weight loss and controlling diabetes has been met with enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, US-listed shares of the Danish company Novo Nordisk, which markets both Ozempic and the higher-dose weight-loss variant Wegovy, slipped 3.9% amid concerns that a viable oral competitor could erode its market dominance.
Orforglipron belongs to the same class of drugs as Ozempic and Wegovy, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Lilly’s stock soared after the company announced a successful trial of its new weight loss drug. Google Market
These medications mimic a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which regulates appetite, insulin secretion, and blood sugar.
While originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs have surged in popularity for their ability to drive substantial weight loss.
Demand for these therapies has skyrocketed in recent years, as obesity rates continue to climb globally and patients increasingly seek pharmaceutical solutions for weight management.
A new oral drug helped Type 2 diabetes patients shed weight at levels comparable to leading injectable medications like Ozempic, according to Lilly. mbruxelle – stock.adobe.com
One of the main barriers to wider adoption of current GLP-1 therapies, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, has been their injectable form.
That has made the development of oral alternatives a top priority for drugmakers.
If approved, Eli Lilly’s orforglipron could reshape the landscape by offering a more convenient, pill-based approach with comparable effectiveness.
The orforglipron trial is one of several studies that Lilly is conducting to evaluate the drug’s potential across a range of conditions, including obesity and sleep apnea.
According to the US government’s clinical trial registry, Lilly’s primary obesity trial is not expected to conclude until at least July.
An oral version of weight loss drugs could pose a threat to the market dominance of Ozempic and Wegovy, which are available only in injectionable form. Getty Images
Should the data remain favorable, the company hopes to file for regulatory approval in early 2026, Lilly CEO David Ricks told Bloomberg Television earlier this year.
The news comes amid recent setbacks in the oral GLP-1 space.
Pfizer halted development of one of its obesity pill candidates in late 2023, citing tolerability issues.
Novo Nordisk has also faced questions about the durability and consistency of results from its own oral formulations.
