In a phase 2 clinical trial, scientists explored the effectiveness of a new Eli Lilly medication called orforglipron in helping overweight individuals lose weight and improve their health. The results of the study bring hope for a potential solution in the battle against obesity.
The study, which involved a randomized and double-blind design, included 272 participants who were overweight or had obesity-related conditions. They were divided into different groups and received daily doses of orforglipron at various strengths (12, 24, 36, or 45 mg), or a placebo, for a period of 36 weeks. The researchers measured the changes in body weight at 26 weeks as the primary outcome and at 36 weeks as the secondary outcome.
At the beginning of the study, participants had an average weight of 239.8 pounds. The findings revealed significant weight reductions in the groups that received orforglipron compared to those who received the placebo. At 26 weeks, individuals taking orforglipron lost between 8.6% and 12.6% of their body weight, while the placebo group only experienced a 2.0% decrease. By the 36-week mark, participants on orforglipron achieved weight reductions ranging from 9.4% to 14.7%, whereas the placebo group only showed a 2.3% reduction.
The most common side effects reported with orforglipron were mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues, which were mostly experienced during the initial dosage adjustments. This is pretty standard for GLP-1 injectables as well. These side effects led to discontinuation of orforglipron in only 10% to 17% of participants across different dosage groups. Importantly, the safety profile of orforglipron was consistent with similar medications used for weight management.
The most exciting take away from this trial is that Lilly has managed to find weight loss results in an oral GLP-1ra, that were previously only seen in injectable medications.
What an exciting time!
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