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
Orforglipron, Eli Lilly's oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, is being tested against placebo for weight management in people with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes. The phase 3 trial targets 600 participants over 18 months, measuring percent change in body weight as the primary endpoint. This represents Eli Lilly's push to expand orforglipron beyond its April 2026 FDA approval for type 2 diabetes into the weight management market, competing directly with Novo Nordisk's approved oral semaglutide for obesity. The trial is part of a broader master protocol evaluating orforglipron across multiple obesity-related populations.
Strategic Signal
Eli Lilly is racing to establish orforglipron in weight management before Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide dominates the oral obesity market following its January 2026 approval. This trial specifically targets people without diabetes, positioning orforglipron as a first-line oral option for weight management rather than just diabetes spillover. The 18-month timeline suggests data by late 2027, potentially enabling a 2028 obesity filing if successful.