A New Oral Obesity Drug is Transforming Indy’s Life Sciences Industry
Indianapolis’ own Eli Lilly and Company will soon introduce a new medication to the market: an oral weight loss pill known as orforglipron. This medication has the potential to transform Indianapolis’ life sciences manufacturing industry.
Like Mounjaro or Ozempic, orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for diabetes and obesity treatment. In trials with diabetes patients, orforglipron demonstrated comparable effectiveness to injectable treatments in controlling blood sugar and promoting weight loss. If approved by the FDA, orforglipron would be the first oral weight loss drug used for both diabetes and obesity treatment.
Orforglipron could bring significant and encouraging change to the healthcare system. In pill form, the medication is cheaper to make and doesn’t require refrigeration. It’s also more accessible to patients and could change the way obesity is managed. It could serve as a preventative measure for individuals at risk of diabetes or obesity.
Based on Lilly’s testing, orforglipron is showing fewer side effects than injectable medications. Scientists have found that incretin hormones like GLP-1 also reduce the risk of heart, liver and kidney diseases, which account for the vast majority of the global healthcare burden. By targeting hormone pathways such as GLP-1, this drug could significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
To help support production, Lilly plans to establish four new manufacturing facilities in the United States — in Indiana, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The Indianapolis plant will start producing orforglipron in 2026. The Indy facility is the largest investment in manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients for synthetic medications in the United States.
Here at ASG, we’re proud to be part of Indianapolis’ thriving life sciences manufacturing industry. Learn more about ASG and what we do.
