The explosion of studies, research and the preparation of new drugs against obesity continues.
Another treatment of the GLP-1 class is claiming a place in the European market. This time it is a pill taken once a day, without the need for an injection.
Eli Lilly's orforglipron is under evaluation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.
The interest in the new drug is not simply due to the fact that it is administered orally, since GLP-1 treatments in pill form have already reached regulators and the market. Its differentiation lies mainly in its composition and method of shooting.
Orforglipron is a small molecule GLP-1, unlike peptide therapies in the same class, and is designed to be taken at any time of the day, without restrictions on food or water. This is a feature that could facilitate its daily use, if finally approved.
The results of clinical studies have already raised expectations. In the phase 3 ATTAIN-1 study, which included adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes, the highest dose of the drug was associated with an average weight loss of 12.4% over 72 weeks, versus 0.9% with placebo.
Almost six out of ten participants who received the highest dose lost at least 10% of their weight, while about four out of ten achieved a loss of at least 15%.
In a separate study in people with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes, the average weight loss reached up to 10.5% at the highest dose, while an improvement in glycaemic control was also recorded.
The European evaluation is ongoing and this means that there is still no decision by the EMA for approval. The Agency reviews the efficacy and safety data before formulating its final opinion.
The arrival of orforglipron at the EMA adds, however, another candidate to the rapidly evolving category of anti-obesity treatments, at a time when competition is now shifting not only in efficacy, but also in the ease with which a long-term treatment can be integrated into the recipient's schedule.
Another treatment of the GLP-1 class is claiming a place in the European market. This time it is a pill taken once a day, without the need for an injection.
Eli Lilly's orforglipron is under evaluation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.
The interest in the new drug is not simply due to the fact that it is administered orally, since GLP-1 treatments in pill form have already reached regulators and the market. Its differentiation lies mainly in its composition and method of shooting.
Orforglipron is a small molecule GLP-1, unlike peptide therapies in the same class, and is designed to be taken at any time of the day, without restrictions on food or water. This is a feature that could facilitate its daily use, if finally approved.
The results of clinical studies have already raised expectations. In the phase 3 ATTAIN-1 study, which included adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes, the highest dose of the drug was associated with an average weight loss of 12.4% over 72 weeks, versus 0.9% with placebo.
Almost six out of ten participants who received the highest dose lost at least 10% of their weight, while about four out of ten achieved a loss of at least 15%.
In a separate study in people with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes, the average weight loss reached up to 10.5% at the highest dose, while an improvement in glycaemic control was also recorded.
The European evaluation is ongoing and this means that there is still no decision by the EMA for approval. The Agency reviews the efficacy and safety data before formulating its final opinion.
The arrival of orforglipron at the EMA adds, however, another candidate to the rapidly evolving category of anti-obesity treatments, at a time when competition is now shifting not only in efficacy, but also in the ease with which a long-term treatment can be integrated into the recipient's schedule.
