- Orforglipron showed greater reductions in A1C blood sugar levels and body weight compared with the oral semaglutide.
- Lilly has filed the drug for approval in more than 40 countries and plans to submit it in the U.S. later this year.
- Eli Lilly is poised to lead the fast-growing GLP-1 market, JPMorgan Chase analyst Chris Schott reportedly said on Wednesday.
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) announced on Thursday that its experimental diabetes pill, Orforglipron, outperformed oral semaglutide in a large Phase 3 study, delivering stronger reductions in blood sugar and greater weight loss over 52 weeks.
The 52-week ACHIEVE-3 trial enrolled 1,698 adults with type 2 diabetes and included four treatment groups - Orforglipron at 12 mg and 36 mg doses, and oral semaglutide at 7 mg and 14 mg doses.
LLY shares were up 0.3% in pre-market trading.
Greater Reductions In A1C Blood Sugar Levels And Body Weight
According to Lilly, Orforglipron showed greater reductions in A1C blood sugar levels and body weight compared with the oral semaglutide. The company said that the results were published in The Lancet. This study comes as the oral GLP-1 race intensifies across the sector.
Orforglipron delivered meaningful improvements in several key heart health measures, including cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and triglycerides. Its safety profile in the ACHIEVE-3 study was consistent with that observed in earlier trials.
The most common side effects for both orforglipron and oral semaglutide were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, and reduced appetite. However, discontinuation rates due to side effects were slightly higher with orforglipron compared to oral semaglutide.
Lilly has filed the drug for approval in more than 40 countries and plans to submit it in the U.S. later this year.
“The results of ACHIEVE-3 highlight the potential advantages of Orforglipron over oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes: greater A1C reduction, more weight loss, and the ability to take it without food or water timing restrictions — that’s a combination that could matter significantly to people managing their disease day in and day out,” said Kenneth Custer, Ph.D., executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health.
Lilly To Lead GLP-1 Market, JPMorgan Says
Eli Lilly is poised to lead the fast-growing GLP-1 market, JPMorgan Chase analyst Chris Schott reportedly said. According to a CNBC article on Wednesday, Schott said Lilly’s “best-in-class” position and its direct-to-consumer platform, LillyDirect, could help it beat expectations as demand for weight-loss drugs rises.
Schott estimates that by 2030, about 8 million patients could pay cash for GLP-1 treatments, benefiting Lilly. He also sees further upside when Lilly launches its oral drug. When Medicare begins covering GLP-1s in April, Schott believes Lilly will gain the most, with 4.5 million Medicare patients projected to use the drugs by 2030.
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