Eli Lilly obesity pill receives EMA recommendation for approval

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the approval of Eli Lilly’s oral obesity and type 2 diabetes medication, known as orforglipron (Foundayo). This recommendation marks the second GLP-1 pill to receive a positive opinion from the EMA, following a similar move for Novo Nordisk’s oral treatment.

The recommendation is now moving to the European Commission for a final decision, which is typically issued within approximately two months. The drug is a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics intestinal hormones to regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite. Clinical studies involving over 4,840 overweight or obese adults showed weight loss of up to 11%.

Unlike weekly injections or certain oral peptides that require strict administration timing, Eli Lilly’s pill is noted for its ease of manufacture and administration. The company aims to expand availability across 30 European countries and integrate the treatment into healthcare systems and telemedicine platforms. The obesity treatment market is projected to exceed $100 billion annually by 2030.