Eli Lilly's Oral Diabetes Drug Shows Cardiovascular Promise in Phase 3 Trial

The results, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Milan and published in The Lancet, suggest the once-daily pill could offer a more convenient alternative to injectable therapies. In the study, which tracked patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, those taking orforglipron experienced a 16% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-4) compared to the insulin glargine group. Pre-planned analyses further indicated a 53% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death and a 57% lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Beyond cardiovascular outcomes, the drug showed measurable metabolic benefits. Participants achieved a 1.6% reduction in A1C levels and an 8.8% reduction in body weight after 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the insulin cohort. Beyond glycemic control, researchers noted improvements in systemic inflammation markers and a slower decline in kidney function. While nausea and gastrointestinal issues remained the most frequent adverse events—consistent with other incretin therapies—the study bolsters the case for orforglipron as a versatile treatment option for cardiometabolic health.