Lilly Obesity Pill Trails Rivals, Faces Market Delay

Eli Lilly's experimental oral weight loss pill, orforglipron, produced an average 12.4% weight loss over 72 weeks in a late-stage trial, less effective than injectable competitors like Wegovy and Zepbound, which report up to 21% weight loss. This result triggered a sharp 14% drop in Lilly's share price despite strong sales of its existing weight-loss drugs and a robust quarterly performance. Gastrointestinal side effects led to notable dropout rates, raising concerns about the pill's tolerability compared to injectables. Lilly plans to submit orforglipron for FDA review by year-end, targeting a market launch in 2026. Market analysts still see potential for the pill due to its convenience and accessibility for patients preferring oral medication. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk is expected to beat Lilly to market with its own oral GLP-1 drug that has shown slightly higher efficacy in trials.