Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Present Competing Oral GLP-1 Data at European Congress on Obesity

Top drug makers recently shared new study results during a major medical meeting. These updates show a growing race to lead the market for weight loss pills. Both companies focused on how well their drugs work and how patients keep weight off. Consequently, the data reveal different plans for how each company wants to help patients.

Novo Nordisk shared new details from its OASIS 4 study on a pill called semaglutide. Researchers found a specific group of people who responded very quickly to the drug. These patients lost 10% of their body weight in only 16 weeks. Building on this, that same group lost nearly 22% of their weight by about 15 months.

Other people in the study lost roughly 11% of their weight during that time. The company called these results very helpful for those struggling with weight. Furthermore, the findings match what doctors saw in earlier tests of the injectable version. In light of this, the study shows that every patient reacts to these drugs differently.

The study also looked at how well patients could move around and stay active. Nearly 77% of people who started with physical limits said they felt much better. This improvement was twice as high as the group taking a dummy pill. Therefore, the medication helps with more than just the numbers on a scale.

Novo Nordisk also talked about a study comparing its pill to a rival drug from Eli Lilly. The company claimed its own pill led to more total weight loss. Along with this, the report said patients on the rival drug were more likely to quit. To be precise, they were 14 times more likely to stop due to side effects.

The first weight loss pill from Novo Nordisk has already seen massive sales success. It earned nearly $350 million in just its first three months on the market. The company noted that this was a record-breaking start for a weight loss pill. Meanwhile, the rival drug from Eli Lilly is growing at a much slower pace.

Eli Lilly focused its latest reports on how to keep weight off over the long term. One study looked at patients who switched from shots to a daily pill. These people kept almost all their weight loss for a full year. Hence, the study proves that pills can help maintain progress after finishing injections.

Another study showed that using a low dose shot also works well for keeping weight off. These findings address the big fear of gaining weight back after stopping treatment. Many patients find it hard to stay at their goal weight without extra help. Given this, doctors are looking for the best way to use these drugs in order.

The data suggest that daily pills could be a great second step for many patients. These drugs help bridge the gap after someone finishes their initial round of injections. In view of this, experts now treat weight management as a long term health journey. Thus, companies are marketing these pills as a way to stay healthy for years.

Medical experts now believe that having more choices will help more people get healthy. Many patients find it much easier to take a pill than to give themselves a shot. This change could help people stick to their treatment plans much better. Accordingly, the healthcare industry expects this part of the market to grow very quickly.