The weight loss drug rivalry between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk just got another data point, and Lilly is making sure everyone sees it.
Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) rolled out new analysis indicating that its medications, Zepbound and Foundayo, delivered superior weight loss and blood sugar control compared to competing Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) semaglutide treatments. The company presented the findings at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
An indirect treatment comparison showed Zepbound, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, provided greater weight reduction than Wegovy HD in obese adults. The analysis leaned on data from the SURMOUNT-1 and STEP UP clinical trials.
At 72 weeks, patients taking 15 mg of Zepbound lost an average of 4.5% more body weight than those on Wegovy HD, based on the treatment-regimen estimand. Those on the 10 mg dose saw a 3.2% greater weight reduction.
Zepbound Drives Significant Weight Reduction
The new analysis revealed that participants using the 15 mg Zepbound dose had four times higher odds of losing 20% or more of their body weight compared to the Wegovy HD group. Even at the 10 mg dose, patients experienced more than double the odds of achieving a 20% weight reduction.
Both Zepbound doses maintained comparable discontinuation rates related to adverse events when compared to Wegovy HD. These findings bolster previous data from the randomized Phase 3b SURMOUNT-5 trial, which established Zepbound's superiority over 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses of Wegovy.
Foundayo Tops Oral Semaglutide In Diabetes Care
The company also presented an indirect comparison evaluating Foundayo against 25 mg of oral semaglutide in adults managing type 2 diabetes. This analysis incorporated data from the ACHIEVE-3 and PIONEER PLUS trials.
Over a 52-week period, patients utilizing 17.2 mg of Foundayo lost 1.5% more body weight than those taking oral semaglutide. Foundayo also delivered better blood sugar management, reducing A1C levels by an additional 0.3%.
Alternative statistical methods confirmed these consistent results, showing Foundayo achieved up to 2.4% greater weight loss and 0.6% further A1C reduction. Both analyses adjusted for variables including gender, age, baseline weight, and baseline A1C levels.
Price Action: Novo Nordisk shares were down 1.38% at $38.17, and Eli Lilly shares were up 0.36% at $1189.00 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to market data.
