Eli Lilly's Orforglipron Shows Promising Results in ATTAIN-1 Weight Loss Trial

Eli Lilly's Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 Trial Highlights

Eli Lilly and Company recently unveiled comprehensive findings from their Phase 3 clinical trial, dubbed ATTAIN-1, showcasing the efficacy of orforglipron, an investigational oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, in addressing obesity and associated health issues. Conducted among adults with obesity or those overweight with related medical conditions, the ATTAIN-1 trial represents a significant advance in weight management therapies.

The pivotal results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 2025 European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting. The findings demonstrated that orforglipron, taken as a once-daily pill, not only helped participants shed substantial weight but also improved several cardiometabolic risk factors.

Key Outcomes of the ATTAIN-1 Trial

During the study, which lasted for 72 weeks, all doses of orforglipron (6 mg, 12 mg, and 36 mg) achieved the primary goal of achieving greater weight reduction compared to a placebo. The participants receiving the highest dosage exhibited an impressive average weight loss of 27.3 pounds (12.4%). Moreover, the trial also monitored secondary endpoints, revealing that 59.6% of participants at this dosage managed to lose at least 10% of their initial body weight, while 39.6% lost over 15%.

Among the trial's 1,127 participants suffering from prediabetes at the outset, almost 91% of those on orforglipron achieved near-normal blood sugar levels after 72 weeks compared to just 42% in the placebo group. This underscores orforglipron's potential benefits not only in weight management but also in promoting metabolic health.

Improvements in Cardiovascular Health

Further reinforcing its importance, participants taking orforglipron witnessed substantial improvements in cardiovascular risk markers typically influenced by obesity. Notable reductions were recorded in non-HDL cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, and triglycerides. Additionally, a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker for inflammation, indicated further health benefits associated with orforglipron usage.

Dr. Sean Wharton, lead investigator at Wharton Medical Clinic, expressed optimism about the study's outcomes, advocating for treatments that align with the daily lives of patients dealing with obesity. He emphasized the need for scalable options to tackle the widespread obesity epidemic efficiently.