Madeleine Hull
The global market for obesity drugs is projected to reach over $100 billion in 2032, with the market for GLP-1 treatments, which are also used to treat Type 2 diabetes, estimated to be even larger at $168 billion. As the obesity epidemic continues to rage in the United States, pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop effective treatments. This article will explore the companies that own diet pill brands and the potential impact of their products on public health and their own financial prospects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Companies that own diet pill brands | Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Structure Therapeutics, Viking Therapeutics, Regor Therapeutics, Roche, Pfizer, Amgen |
| Eli Lilly's diet pill name | orfoglipron |
| Eli Lilly's diet pill side effects | Diarrhea, indigestion, constipation, nausea, vomiting |
| Eli Lilly's diet pill status | Awaiting FDA approval |
| Eli Lilly's diet pill inventory value | $550 million |
| Eli Lilly's other diet drugs | Zepbound, Trulicity, Humalog (insulin lispro) |
| Novo Nordisk's diet pill name | amycretin |
| Novo Nordisk's diet pill status | Positive early trial data |
| Novo Nordisk's market capitalization | $604 billion |
| Novo Nordisk's other diet drugs | Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Levemir, Tresiba, NovoLog, Novolin R, NovoSeven, NovoEight, Victoza |
| Other companies' diet pill names | MariTide, amycretin, oral semaglutide, ARD-101 |
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What You'll Learn
Eli Lilly's Orforglipron
Eli Lilly and Company is a pharmaceutical company that has developed Orforglipron, an oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. This drug is designed to help with weight loss and blood sugar control, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycaemic control with diet and exercise alone.
Orforglipron is a convenient, once-daily pill that has shown promising results in Phase 3 trials, demonstrating statistically significant efficacy and a safety profile consistent with injectable GLP-1 medications. The drug has been found to reduce A1C levels and promote weight loss, with participants in the trial losing an average of 16 pounds at the highest dose.
One of the key advantages of Orforglipron is its simplified production process compared to injected GLP-1 drugs. It does not require cold storage, making it more accessible and affordable globally. Eli Lilly is building up a stockpile of Orforglipron to avoid supply shortages, which have been an issue with other injectable GLP-1 drugs.
While the drug has shown positive results, it is important to note that it has not yet been approved by regulatory agencies. Eli Lilly plans to submit Phase 3 data to global regulatory agencies and seek approval for Orforglipron as a diabetes treatment in 2026. The company expects to receive regulatory approvals and launch Orforglipron worldwide, contributing to its mission of reducing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
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Novo Nordisk's Rybelsus
Rybelsus works by reducing appetite and is meant to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise. The recommended dosage is to take Rybelsus by mouth on an empty stomach in the morning with a sip of plain water (no more than 4 ounces). It should not be split, crushed, or chewed, and other oral medications can be taken after 30 minutes.
Rybelsus is associated with possible side effects, including thyroid tumors, and even thyroid cancer. This risk was observed in studies with rodents, and it is unknown if Rybelsus will have the same effect on humans. Additionally, it is not known if Rybelsus will harm an unborn baby, so it is recommended to stop using it two months before planning to become pregnant or if breastfeeding.
Rybelsus has a list price of $997.58 per package, but most people with health insurance will not pay this amount. For eligible patients with private or commercial insurance, the out-of-pocket cost can be as low as $10 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month prescription. Those without insurance may pay the list price or compare prices among retail and online pharmacies to find a lower cost.
Novo Nordisk also offers injectable drugs for weight loss, which cost $500 in most cases for patients paying without insurance. These injectable drugs include semaglutide, which is the same medication as Rybelsus but in a different formulation.
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Pfizer's Danuglipron
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has been working on an oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, Danuglipron (PF-06882961), for chronic weight management. Danuglipron is an investigational medicine taken as a tablet by mouth and is not approved for use by health authorities. It is a type of investigational medicine known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which helps to keep blood sugar at healthy levels by increasing the amount of insulin released. Other potential effects include slowing down the digestion of food and increasing the feeling of fullness after eating, which may be associated with weight loss.
Pfizer's dose-optimisation studies of once-daily formulations of Danuglipron met key pharmacokinetic objectives and confirmed a formulation and dose with the potential to deliver a competitive efficacy and tolerability profile in Phase 3 testing. These studies were based on earlier studies of twice-daily Danuglipron. The overall frequency of liver enzyme elevations across the over 1,400 participant safety database of Danuglipron is in line with approved agents in the class. However, a single asymptomatic participant in one of the dose-optimisation studies experienced potential drug-induced liver injury, which resolved after discontinuation.
Following this, in April 2025, Pfizer announced it would abandon further development of Danuglipron due to unpredictable liver toxicity. Pfizer stated that it was disappointed to discontinue the development of Danuglipron but remains committed to evaluating and advancing promising programs to bring innovative new medicines to patients. The data from the Danuglipron clinical development program will be presented at a scientific forum or submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in the future.
Obesity is a key therapeutic area for Pfizer, and the company has a robust pipeline of three clinical and several pre-clinical candidates. Pfizer plans to continue applying its global capabilities to advance a pipeline of investigational treatments that have the potential to fill critical gaps in patient care, including the continued development of its oral GIPR antagonist candidate and other earlier obesity programs.
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Amgen's MariTide
MariTide is a peptide antibody conjugate, which means it is a monoclonal antibody linked to two peptides. This gives the drug a longer half-life, allowing it to stay in the body longer and be taken monthly rather than weekly. The peptides activate receptors of a gut hormone called GLP-1, which reduces appetite and regulates blood sugar. Meanwhile, the antibody blocks receptors of another hormone called GIP, which may affect how the body breaks down sugar and fat.
The Phase 2 trial of MariTide included nearly 600 adults with Type 2 diabetes and obesity, or obesity alone. Participants received one of three doses of MariTide or a placebo, taken once a month for a year. The trial found that participants with obesity alone who received MariTide lost up to 20% of their body weight, compared to 2.6% in the placebo group. Among participants with diabetes, those who received MariTide lost up to 17% of their body weight, compared to 1.4% in the placebo group.
Side effects reported for MariTide were similar to those seen with other GLP-1 medications, mainly gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation. However, these side effects were generally mild and transient, and the incidence of nausea and vomiting decreased with dose escalation. Amgen is also testing the drug with every-other-month dosing, which has shown comparable weight loss to the monthly version but with more side effects.
MariTide is part of the next generation of highly effective treatments for diabetes and weight loss that aim to offer greater weight loss with fewer side effects than existing drugs. Amgen has started two critical late-stage Phase 3 trials to further evaluate the drug's efficacy and safety.
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Roche's CT-996
Several companies own diet pills, including Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Structure Therapeutics, Roche, Viking Therapeutics, and Regor Therapeutics.
Roches CT-996
Roche's experimental once-daily pill CT-996 is an investigational, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The drug is designed to activate the GLP-1 receptor, promoting the secretion of insulin from the pancreas and suppressing appetite.
In July 2024, Roche announced positive Phase I results, with obese patients without diabetes experiencing a placebo-adjusted average weight loss of 6.1% within four weeks. The drug was well tolerated, with mostly mild or moderate gastrointestinal side effects similar to those seen in other weight-loss drugs. However, when doses were increased rapidly in the Phase I study, patients experienced nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal distension.
A more gradual increase in the CT-996 dose improved its tolerability, and Roche noted that gastrointestinal side effects were consistent with the safety profile of the incretin drug class. The company plans to start Phase II studies for CT-996 in 2025, with the drug candidate originally developed by Carmot Therapeutics, which Roche acquired in December 2023 for $2.7 billion.
CT-996 could potentially be dosed without regard to meal timing, offering greater dosing flexibility for patients. It is anticipated to be used as a therapy for achieving glycaemic control and inducing weight loss, as well as for oral weight maintenance therapy following weight loss induced by injectables. Despite the positive Phase I results, some investors remain concerned about CT-996's safety data and are awaiting improved tolerability in Phase II studies.
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Frequently asked questions
Some companies that own diet pills include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer.
Eli Lilly owns the weight loss pill orfoglipron, as well as Zepbound, Trulicity, and Humalog (insulin lispro).
Novo Nordisk owns Wegovy, Rybelsus, and amycretin.
