AstraZeneca's oral diabetes drug elecoglipron cuts blood sugar and weight in trial

Researchers presented results of the SOLSTICE trial, a phase‑2 study of AstraZeneca’s experimental oral GLP‑1 drug elecoglipron, at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions. The trial enrolled 406 adults with type 2 diabetes from nine countries and ran for 26 weeks. Nearly 90 % of participants receiving elecoglipron achieved the HbA1c target of < 7 % compared with about 25 % on placebo, and roughly three‑quarters lost at least 5 % of body weight versus one‑fifth of the placebo group. Safety was comparable to existing GLP‑1 therapies. The study was led by Dr Vanita Aroda of Mass General Brigham and sponsored by AstraZeneca.

If confirmed in longer‑term studies, elecoglipron could offer a convenient oral alternative to injectable diabetes treatments, potentially improving glycaemic control and weight management for millions of patients worldwide.