A new indirect comparison presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes suggests that Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug Foundayo may deliver greater weight loss and improved blood sugar control than a higher-dose regimen of oral semaglutide, signalling a potential shift in diabetes treatment options.
Eli Lilly has said a new indirect comparison suggests that its oral GLP-1 drug Foundayo, orforglipron, may produce greater weight loss and better blood sugar control than a higher-dose oral semaglutide regimen in adults with type 2 diabetes. The company said the analysis, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Milan, compared data from two separate studies rather than testing the medicines head to head. Lilly has been trying to build a wider case for the drug after reporting positive results across its ACHIEVE programme.
In the latest analysis, Lilly said Foundayo 17.2 mg was associated with about 1.5% more weight loss and a 0.3% greater reduction in HbA1c, a measure of long-term blood sugar control, than oral semaglutide 25 mg after 52 weeks. The company said the comparison was adjusted for factors including sex, age, starting HbA1c and baseline weight. Lilly also said alternative statistical methods pointed in the same direction, with Foundayo showing a larger effect on both weight and HbA1c.
The findings follow the earlier ACHIEVE-3 study, in which Lilly said orforglipron outperformed oral semaglutide 14 mg on both glucose control and weight loss. Reuters has previously reported that Lilly plans to seek regulatory approval for Foundayo in type 2 diabetes, while the company has also been widening its obesity pipeline. In another recent Phase 3 trial, Lilly said orforglipron led to meaningful weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related condition, adding to the commercial case for an oral alternative in a crowded market.
Still, the comparison with oral semaglutide 25 mg has limits. Lilly acknowledged that the analysis was indirect, meaning the two medicines were not tested in the same trial, and the 25 mg dose is not approved for type 2 diabetes in the United States, although Novo Nordisk has sought clearance for it. For clinicians, the result may be useful as an early signal, but direct comparative data would carry greater weight.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
