In an 18-month clinical trial of the experimental GLP-1 pill orforglipron, about 60 percent of people lost at least 10 percent of their body weight.

Eli Lilly's pill, orforglipron, is one step closer to becoming the first new, needle-free alternative in the booming market for weight loss and diabetes drugs.

In the first Phase 3 trial of its once-daily oral GLP-1 pill in people with obesity, drugmaker Eli Lilly said Thursday that it helped people lower their weight by an average of 12% after 72 weeks.