Eli Lilly’s early-stage obesity drug causes up to 11% of weight loss in three months

Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) experimental obesity therapy eloralintide has caused up to 11% weight loss over 12 weeks in an early-stage trial, according to data published on Friday ahead of a healthcare conference next week.

Citing an abstract posted ahead of the 85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Prakhar Agrawal said that the amylin receptor agonist has indicated a strong efficacy and safety profile in the trial.

“The data look particularly strong and should push the program back into investor conversations,” Bloomberg reported, quoting Agrawal.

According to the abstract, the injectable caused weight reductions ranging from 2.6% to 11.3% in 100 patients who took part in the 12-week study.

The trial designed to evaluate multiple eloralintide doses also demonstrated minimal side effects related to the gastrointestinal system, with only about 10% and 8% of subjects experiencing diarrhea and vomiting, respectively.

More data on safety and dosing are expected at the conference, scheduled for June 20–23 in Chicago, IL. Mid-stage trials designed to test eloralintide as a single agent and in combination with LLY’s blockbuster weight loss drug Zepbound are also underway.

Given the side effects of popular weight loss drugs, Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) Wegovy, targeted at gut hormones, GLP-1, and GIP, companies have focused on developing drugs with different mechanisms of action.

Early this week, shares of Metsera (MTSR) rose after the company said its amylin analog MET-233i caused up to 8.4% of weight loss on average in just over a month against placebo in adults with overweight or obesity.