Orforglipron: New Hope for Type 2 Diabetes & Weight Loss
- eli Lilly and company announced positive results from a study of orforglipron, a new oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.
- Orforglipron stimulates insulin release and slows gastric emptying, possibly reducing food intake and promoting weight loss.
- Lilly is currently conducting phase 3 trials to assess orforglipron for T2D and weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and related medical issues.
News from Eli Lilly: Orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, is showing real promise as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D) adn weight loss, marking a significant advancement in diabetes care. The ACHIEVE-1 trial revealed meaningful A1C reductions and weight loss in participants, offering new hope for those managing their condition. Specifically, the highest dose of orforglipron led to considerable weight loss. This innovative drug, which stimulates insulin release and may curb food intake, could become a more accessible option compared to injectable medications. The study highlights the drug’s safety profile, generally aligning with existing GLP-1 medications.Eli Lilly plans to submit orforglipron for T2D treatment approval in 2026. News Directory 3 has more on these developments. Discover what’s next in diabetes treatment.
Lilly’s Orforglipron Shows Promise for Type 2 Diabetes treatment
Updated May 26, 2025
eli Lilly and company announced positive results from a study of orforglipron, a new oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. The drug is intended for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) whose glycemic control is inadequate despite diet and exercise.
Orforglipron stimulates insulin release and slows gastric emptying, possibly reducing food intake and promoting weight loss. Its unique structure may allow for easier absorption. The drug could also be more affordable than injectable GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and dulaglutide.
Lilly is currently conducting phase 3 trials to assess orforglipron for T2D and weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and related medical issues. It is also being evaluated as a possible treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in obese individuals.
The ACHIEVE-1 trial, a 40-week, phase 3 study, compared the efficacy and safety of 3 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg doses of orforglipron to a placebo in individuals with T2D. The study included 559 participants who were randomly assigned to one of the four groups.
The trial aimed to demonstrate orforglipron’s ability to reduce A1C levels compared to placebo. Participants had not taken antidiabetic medications for at least 90 days, were insulin-naive, had an HbA1c between 7.0% and 9.5%, and a BMI of 23 kg/m2 or higher. All orforglipron recipients started with a 1 mg daily dose, gradually increasing every four weeks to their assigned maintenance dose.
Results showed that orforglipron-treated individuals experienced an average A1C reduction of 1.3% to 1.6% from a baseline of 8.0%, compared to placebo, meeting the primary endpoint. More than 65% of participants receiving the highest dose achieved an A1C of 6.5% or lower. Those on the highest dose also lost an average of 16 pounds.
ACHIEVE-1 is the first of 7 phase 3 studies examining the safety and efficacy of orforglipron across people with diabetes and obesity. We are pleased to see that our latest incretin medicine meets our expectations for safety and tolerability, glucose control, and weight loss, and we look forward to additional data readouts later this year,”
The safety profile aligned with other GLP-1 medications, with common, mostly mild to moderate adverse events like diarrhea, nausea, dyspepsia, constipation, and vomiting. Discontinuation due to adverse events occurred in 4% to 8% of orforglipron recipients, compared to 1% in the placebo group.
What’s next
Further results from ACHIEVE-1 will be presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions. Eli Lilly anticipates submitting orforglipron for T2D treatment approval in 2026.