“As part of the global development, we have several ongoing clinical studies across different sites in India, some of them focusing on novel products including the oral nonpeptide GLP-1 receptor agonist,” the company’s spokesperson in India said.
The advanced-stage trials of orforglipron have started at 12 sites in India with a sample size of 120 participants, according to India’s clinical trial registry.
Research studies from phase-two clinical trials released by Eli Lilly last year showed orforglipron taken once daily produced weight-loss at levels of prevailing injectable drugs like Wegovy (semaglutide) or Saxenda (liraglutide), both sold by Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk.
Interestingly, in 2022 Novo Nordisk launched Rybelsus, an oral form of semaglutide, in the Indian market for the treatment of type two diabetes. While Rybelsus helps diabetes patients lose weight, its injectable counterparts like Ozempic/Wegovy or Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro/Zepbound have significantly better results. However, these injections are not yet available in India and are in varying stages of clinical trials and regulatory approval processes.
Last month Eli Lilly’s global chief executive David Ricks was hopeful of a breakthrough for its oral drug. He told ET in an exclusive interview late February on the sidelines of BioAsia conference in Hyderabad that orforglipron is undergoing global phase-three clinical studies expected to conclude next year.”That is a kind of ideal drug for a place like India because we have over 300-400 million people who are obese or overweight in India,” Ricks said.
