Eli Lilly's obesity pill outperforms Novo Nordisk's oral drug in head-to-head diabetes trial

Core Viewpoint - Eli Lilly's experimental pill, orforglipron, has shown superior results in lowering blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss compared to Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide in a head-to-head study for Type 2 diabetes patients [3][4][5]. Company Summary - Eli Lilly's orforglipron achieved a 2.2% reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels at 52 weeks, outperforming Novo Nordisk's 1.4% reduction [3]. - The highest dose of orforglipron resulted in an average weight loss of 9.2% (19.7 pounds), compared to 5.3% (11 pounds) with Novo Nordisk's pill [4]. - Eli Lilly plans to apply for approval of orforglipron for Type 2 diabetes treatment in 2026 and aims for a global launch by next year [6]. Industry Summary - The GLP-1 market is projected to be worth around $100 billion by the 2030s, with oral GLP-1s potentially accounting for $50 billion of that total [7]. - There is a growing demand for more convenient treatment options to address supply shortages and access issues associated with current injectable medications [7].