Eli Lilly reports additional data on weight-loss pill from diabetes trial

Feb 26 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly on Thursday released new data from a head-to-head trial of its experimental weight-loss pill, orforglipron, and rival Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide in diabetes patients, giving a more detailed picture of the side effects.

* About 58% of patients who were on a 36-milligram dose ofLilly’s drug in the study reported mild-to-moderate sideeffects, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, compared with45% of those treated with the 14 mg dose of oral semaglutide * Novo sells oral semaglutide under the brand name Rybelsusfor patients with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar * About 10% of patients who received 36 mg orforgliprondiscontinued treatment due to side effects, compared with 5% ofthose treated with 14 mg Rybelsus * Those who received orforglipron also reported an averageincrease in pulse rate * Initial results announced in September showed 36 mgorforglipron lowered average blood glucose levels in patients by2.2%, compared with 1.4% on 14 mg Rybelsus * Patients who took 36 mg orforglipron lost an average of8.9 kg (19.7 lb), or 9.2%, of their weight, compared with 5 kg(11 lb), or 5.3%, on 14 mg Rybelsus * “We think that the totality of the profile here is atrade-off that patients will be very happy to make because theyare getting better glycemic control and better weight loss aswell as no restriction on dosing with food and water,” saidKenneth Custer, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health * Lilly’s orforglipron, like Rybelsus, mimics theappetite-suppressing GLP-1 hormone targeted by the company’sblockbuster injection tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro andZepbound 

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva)