Orforglipron Weight-Loss Pill Trial Results: Eli Lilly Reports 12.4% Body Weight Reduction, Shares Fall 15%

Eli Lilly released the Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 Orforglipron weight-loss pill trial results, highlighting its once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight management. In the 72-week study of 3,127 adults with obesity or overweight (without diabetes), the highest 36 mg dose achieved an average weight loss of 12.4% (27.3 lbs) compared to 0.9% for placebo. The treatment met all primary and secondary endpoints, also reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammation markers. However, the results trailed Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy, which delivered a 14.9% weight loss in earlier trials.

At the top dose, 59.6% of participants lost at least 10% of their weight, and 39.6% lost 15% or more. Lower doses of 6 mg and 12 mg achieved 7.8% and 8.4% loss, respectively.

Orforglipron can be taken without food or water restrictions, offering a convenient option for patients who prefer pills over injections like Wegovy or Lilly’s Zepbound.

Gastrointestinal side effects were common, with nausea in 33.7% and vomiting in 24% of high-dose patients, compared to 10.4% and 3.5% with placebo. Constipation, diarrhea, and dyspepsia also occurred, and about 10.3% discontinued due to side effects. Lilly described the safety profile as consistent with the GLP-1 class, though some analysts noted higher-than-expected GI rates.

The announcement triggered a nearly 15% drop in Lilly’s share price, erasing over $100 billion in market value—the steepest single-day decline in 25 years. Novo Nordisk’s shares rose more than 6% on the news, with analysts calling it a “best-case scenario” for the rival. Despite this, projections suggest orforglipron could generate up to $40 billion in combined obesity and diabetes sales by 2033. Lilly has already started manufacturing to meet demand at launch.

Regulatory submission is planned by year-end 2025, with a global rollout targeted for both obesity and type 2 diabetes. Full ATTAIN-1 results will be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting next month, alongside data from Lilly’s ACHIEVE program. If approved, orforglipron could be a widely accessible oral alternative in a weight-loss market expected to hit $150 billion by the early 2030s.

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Created: Aug 9th, 2025

Citations:

Wingrove, P., & Satija, B. (2025, August 7). Lilly pill cuts body weight by 12.4% in trial, lagging Novo's Wegovy injection. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/lilly-pill-cuts-body-weight-by-124-trial-lagging-novos-wegovy-injection-2025-08-07/

Endocrine News. (2025, August 8). Positive Phase 3 trial results for Lilly’s oral weight-loss drug, orforglipron. Endocrine Society. https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/pharma-fridays-august-8-2025/

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