The results, which were published in the Lancet on Thursday, are very encouraging for the safety and efficacy of orforglipron in people with type 2 diabetes, says Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist at the University of Toronto, adding that he is awaiting further clinical trial results of the drug in people with obesity.
Lilly's pill "outperformed" Novo's "on every key endpoint we measured, including A1C and weight loss," lead trial investigator Dr. Julio Rosenstock, an endocrinologist and diabetes and metabolism expert, said in a release.
Most people are more comfortable taking a pill than regularly injecting themselves, says Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist at the University of Toronto, who previously consulted for Novo Nordisk. It's just good to have more options for people, he says. At the same time, the pills could greatly improve access to the medication by lowering coststhe injections can cost hundreds of dollars per month out of pocket.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a pill version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, according to pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. It is the first pill of its kind to receive approval from the regulator, marking a new era for weight-loss drugs. Wegovy's Danish makers Novo Nordisk said the once-daily pill was a "convenient option" to the injectable and would provide the same weight loss as the shot.