Eli Lilly’s experimental oral weight-loss drug, orforglipron, has shown promising—but somewhat mixed—results in a recent clinical trial, marking a significant milestone in the race to develop accessible obesity treatments worldwide. The findings, released in early August 2025, have also prompted notable market shifts among major pharmaceutical companies involved in this competitive field.
Clinical Results Highlight Promises and Limitations
According to Eli Lilly, their new oral medication helped overweight and obese adults lose an average of 12.4% of their body weight—approximately 27 pounds—over a 72-week period in a Phase 3 clinical trial. The study enrolled 3,127 participants who did not have diabetes. By comparison, those in the placebo group lost about 0.9% of their body weight, or roughly 2.2 pounds.
In addition to weight reductions, patients receiving orforglipron also experienced improvements in key health metrics such as triglyceride levels and blood sugar. The company reported that the pill was also tested in individuals with type 2 diabetes, where it not only lowered blood sugar but prompted weight loss comparable to that achieved with injectable medications currently on the market.
Comparison to Existing Therapies
Despite the positive data, orforglipron’s efficacy was slightly lower than that of rival injectable drugs. For example, a 2021 trial of Novo Nordisk’s injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist, Wegovy, reported a 14.9% reduction in body weight. Oral semaglutide from Novo Nordisk is currently under regulatory review for weight loss, having posted a 15% average reduction in clinical trials. Other oral contenders in the pipeline include Structure Therapeutics’ GSBR-1290 (6.2% weight loss in 12 weeks) and Roche’s CT-966 (6.1% in four weeks), further intensifying competition in this expanding sector (Reuters).
Side Effect Profile and Participant Dropout
While majority of participants tolerated orforglipron, the highest dose group (36 mg) reported higher rates of gastrointestinal side effects than expected: 33.7% experienced nausea and 24% reported vomiting. About 10% of those participants discontinued the medication due to side effects such as constipation and other stomach-related issues. These rates are similar to those seen with the leading injectable medications (Reuters).
Market Reaction and Strategic Plans
The release of trial results had immediate repercussions in the pharmaceutical market. Following the news, shares of Eli Lilly fell by 14%, reflecting investor concerns over the drug’s lower-than-expected efficacy and higher side-effect burden. At the same time, shares of Danish competitor Novo Nordisk jumped 13.6%, as the market perceived less immediate competitive threat to its injectable therapies (Reuters).
Eli Lilly announced plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory review in the United States by the end of 2025. The company is also making significant investments to scale up production, anticipating high demand for a medication that could fill accessibility gaps left by more costly injectables—especially in low-income regions or where cold storage and injectable administration present logistical challenges.
The pricing for orforglipron has not yet been decided and will be determined following regulatory assessment.
Significance Amid Rising Demand
The global surge in demand for obesity and diabetes treatments has been remarkable in recent years, driven in part by growing obesity rates and new clinical understanding of the health risks tied to excess weight. Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, have yielded substantial clinical benefits but remain expensive and somewhat difficult to distribute widely. An effective pill could help millions more patients, providing a simpler, more affordable, and easier-to-manufacture alternative.
While orforglipron is not as potent as leading injectables, experts note that its oral administration and comparable side effect profile make it a compelling candidate in a world in need of scalable weight loss solutions. Final regulatory approval is still required before it can reach pharmacies, leaving open questions about its real-world impact and long-term acceptance among both patients and clinicians.
For further information and detailed data, see the original coverage: Yahoo News, as well as additional reporting from Reuters, Financial Times, and Stock Titan.