But this one, for Lilly’s first diabetes and weight-loss pill based on the GLP-1 hormone, was particularly fraught. Days before, rival pharma giant Pfizer had announced it was abandoning its oral weight-loss drug after worrying side effects involving liver problems were reported in one participant in the trial.

A daily weight loss pill being tested by Eli Lilly could work as well as its GLP-1 injection counterparts like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, a clinical trial shows.

A new drug, called orforglipron, can help people with diabetes manage their A1C and weight, according to topline results from a phase 3 trial by Eli Lilly.