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ClinicalTrials16 Apr 2026·Phase 3● 8/10i

A Master Protocol to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Orforglipron Tablet Once Daily Compared With Placebo in Participants With Obesity or Overweight With and Without Type 2 Diabetes

Eli Lilly and Company

Phase 3 master protocol testing oral orforglipron versus placebo in adults with obesity or overweight, with or without type 2 diabetes. Enrolling 1,200 participants across two sub-studies, expected completion August 2027, placebo-controlled design. Eli Lilly advances orforglipron into obesity treatment following its April 2026 FDA approval for type 2 diabetes, representing the first small-molecule oral GLP-1 to enter weight management. This positions Eli Lilly to challenge Novo Nordisk's dominance in oral GLP-1 obesity treatment, where oral semaglutide gained approval in January 2026.

Strategic signal

Eli Lilly targets the oral obesity market just eight months after Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide approval, accelerating competitive pressure in oral weight management. Orforglipron's dosing convenience advantage over Rybelsus (no fasting restrictions) becomes critical for commercial differentiation. US payers will face the first oral GLP-1 obesity competition, potentially creating formulary leverage that didn't exist with injectable options alone.

GLP-1Weight lossType 2 diabetesEli LillyNovo Nordisk

Original Abstract

The purpose of this Master Protocol is to support two studies to see how well and how safely orforglipron works compared to placebo in participants who have obesity or overweight with or without type 2 diabetes. Participants will be screened for about 4 weeks, after which they will enroll into either J2A-MC-GZP1, NCT06972459 (do not have type 2 diabetes) or J2A-MC-GZP2, NCT06972472 (have type 2 diabetes). | Condition(s): Obesity; Overweight; Type 2 Diabetes | Primary endpoint(s): Number of Participants Allocated to Each Study | Enrollment: 1,200 (estimated) | Phase: Phase 3 | Sponsor: Eli Lilly and Company | Expected completion: 2027-08 | Status: Recruiting | Last update: 2026-04-16

Related signals

FDA1 Apr 2026·New Drug Approval (NDA/BLA)● 10/10iHigh impact

FDA Approves Foundayo (Orforglipron) — New Drug Approval (NDA/BLA)

FDA approved orforglipron (Foundayo, Eli Lilly) for type 2 diabetes -- a once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist. Orforglipron is the first non-peptide oral GLP-1 approved in the US; oral semaglutide (Rybelsus, Novo Nordisk) has been approved for T2D since 2019 and expanded to obesity in January 2026. Unlike Rybelsus, orforglipron requires no fasting or water volume restrictions before dosing.

GLP-1Type 2 diabetesPricing/accessEli LillyNovo Nordisk
ClinicalTrials19 Mar 2026·Phase 3● 9/10iHigh impact

Efficacy and Safety of Tirzepatide Once Weekly in Participants Without Type 2 Diabetes Who Have Obesity or Are Overweight With Weight-Related Comorbidities: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (SURMOUNT-1)

Phase 3 SURMOUNT-1 tests once-weekly tirzepatide at three doses versus placebo in adults without type 2 diabetes who have obesity or are overweight with comorbidities. The randomized, double-blind trial targets 2,539 participants with primary efficacy assessment at 72 weeks. This represents tirzepatide's pivotal obesity trial against placebo, potentially supporting Eli Lilly's bid to compete directly with Wegovy in the non-diabetic obesity market. A prediabetes subgroup continues long-term to assess diabetes prevention.

Weight lossGLP-1Eli Lilly
ClinicalTrials17 Apr 2026·Phase 3● 8/10iHigh impactPick of the week

The Effect of Semaglutide in Subjects With Non-cirrhotic Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Phase 3 trial evaluates semaglutide versus placebo in adults with non-cirrhotic NASH, measuring steatohepatitis resolution, fibrosis improvement, and cirrhosis-free survival over approximately 5 years. The study enrolled 1,205 adults and is active but not recruiting, with completion expected in 2029. This represents Novo Nordisk's push into NASH, a major unmet need with no approved GLP-1 therapies despite strong preclinical rationale. The trial's dual primary endpoints and 5-year duration suggest preparation for a pivotal regulatory filing in this large addressable market.

GLP-1Liver/NASHNovo Nordisk
ClinicalTrials17 Apr 2026·Phase 3● 8/10iHigh impact

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Retatrutide Once Weekly in Participants Who Have Obesity or Overweight and Chronic Low Back Pain

Phase 3 trial evaluating retatrutide for chronic low back pain in people with obesity or overweight, targeting dual primary endpoints of pain intensity reduction and weight loss. 586-person placebo-controlled study expected to complete September 2027, investigating a novel indication beyond traditional metabolic endpoints. Eli Lilly is exploring pain management as a potential expansion for their triple agonist, representing the first major trial of a GLP-1-based therapy specifically for chronic pain conditions.

GLP-1Weight lossOtherEli Lilly

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