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INDIANAPOLIS - Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), a pharmaceutical giant with a market capitalization of $670 billion and impressive revenue growth of 36.38% in the last twelve months, announced Thursday that its investigational once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, orforglipron, achieved significant weight reduction in adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related health conditions. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong financial health score and operates with industry-leading gross profit margins of 81.7%.
In the Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial involving 3,127 participants, the highest dose (36 mg) of orforglipron demonstrated average weight loss of 12.4% (27.3 pounds) compared to 0.9% (2.2 pounds) with placebo after 72 weeks of treatment, meeting the study’s primary endpoint. This development has caught analysts’ attention, with InvestingPro reporting that 8 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward for the upcoming period. For deeper insights into Eli Lilly’s growth potential and comprehensive analysis, investors can access the detailed Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.
The trial also showed that 59.6% of participants taking the highest dose lost at least 10% of their body weight, while 39.6% lost at least 15%. The treatment was associated with reductions in cardiovascular risk markers, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure.
"With orforglipron, we’re working to transform obesity care by introducing a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management," said Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, in the press release.
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal, including nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and dyspepsia, consistent with the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. Treatment discontinuation rates due to adverse events ranged from 5.1% to 10.3% across the orforglipron doses compared to 2.6% with placebo.
Orforglipron can be taken any time of day without food or water restrictions, potentially offering a more convenient alternative to injectable GLP-1 treatments.
Lilly plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end and is preparing for a global launch. Detailed results from the ATTAIN-1 trial will be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting next month. With the company trading near its Fair Value according to InvestingPro calculations and maintaining a strong analyst consensus rating of 1.72 (where 1 is Strong Buy), investors seeking detailed valuation metrics and additional ProTips can find comprehensive analysis in the Pro Research Report.
The company is also evaluating orforglipron for type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension in adults with obesity.
In other recent news, Eli Lilly has made significant strides with its diabetes drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which showed favorable cardiovascular outcomes in a study compared to Trulicity for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The trial indicated an 8% lower rate of major adverse cardiovascular events and a 16% reduction in all-cause mortality for those on Mounjaro. Additionally, Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug Kisunla (donanemab) received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, paving the way for potential approval in Europe. In the realm of oncology, the company’s BTK inhibitor Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib) demonstrated positive results in a trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, showing non-inferiority compared to Imbruvica. Analyst firms are taking note of these developments, with BMO Capital raising its price target for Eli Lilly to $920, maintaining an Outperform rating due to confidence in the company’s pipeline, including orforglipron. Meanwhile, Bernstein SocGen Group reiterated an Outperform rating with a $1,100 price target, influenced by possible Medicare coverage for weight-loss medications. These advancements reflect Eli Lilly’s ongoing efforts to expand its therapeutic offerings across various medical conditions.
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