Eli Lilly CEO says one-third of new GLP-1 patients are on Foundayo as company expands production

Eli Lilly announced plans to accelerate development of an oral glucagon‑like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1) medication as it seeks to narrow the gap with Novo Nordisk, which launched the first GLP‑1 pill, oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), in 2019. Novo’s early entry has translated into a dominant position in the rapidly expanding market for diabetes and obesity treatments, with Rybelsus generating more than $2 billion in global sales last year and establishing a foothold for subsequent products such as Wegovy oral.

Lilly’s candidate, currently in Phase III trials, is a once‑daily tablet designed to deliver comparable efficacy to its injectable counterpart tirzepatide while offering the convenience of oral administration. The company expects regulatory filing in the United States by early 2025, with a potential launch later that year. Analysts note that the oral GLP‑1 segment is projected to reach $8 billion by 2030, and Lilly’s entry could intensify pricing competition and broaden therapeutic options for patients who prefer pills over injections.

If approved, the new Lilly pill would give the firm its first oral GLP‑1 offering and could reshape market dynamics that have been largely controlled by Novo Nordisk. The move underscores the broader industry trend toward oral formulations of drugs traditionally delivered by injection, and it may accelerate innovation and access in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.