Lilly’s oral GLP-1 shows no liver safety issues in Phase III diabetes trial

US pharma major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) spotlighted new safety and efficacy data for its investigational oral GLP-1 therapy orforglipron at the American Diabetes Association meeting, revealing no liver toxicity and further bolstering its position in the growing diabetes and obesity treatment market.

The once-daily oral drug met its primary target in the 40-week ACHIEVE-1 trial, delivering A1C reductions of up to 1.6% in adults with type 2 diabetes who were not meeting glycemic targets through diet and exercise alone. In a key secondary measure, those on the highest dose lost an average of 16 pounds - nearly 8% of their body weight.

The data, now published in the New England Journal of Medicine, show orforglipron achieved meaningful improvements in both blood sugar control and weight loss across all three tested doses - 3mg, 12mg, and 36mg - compared to placebo. Importantly, safety findings were in line with the GLP-1 class, with no sign of the liver toxicity that derailed Pfizer’s rival oral drug, danuglipron, earlier this year.