June 17, 2025 – Eli Lilly has reported promising early-stage results from a Phase I trial combining its amylin candidate eloralintide with the approved GLP-1 drug tirzepatide. At 12 weeks, patients experienced weight loss ranging from 2.6% to 11.3%, while those in the placebo group gained an average of 0.2%.
Analysts from Guggenheim described the findings as “top-tier” among emerging data for the new class of weight loss therapies. They also praised the drug’s tolerability, though detailed safety data remains limited.
Eloralintide, a selective amylin, is being evaluated in overweight and obese patients. The results will be presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Conference next week. Abstracts released ahead of the event offered an early look at the data. However, Lilly has not yet disclosed the specific doses tied to each weight loss outcome or how the dose was adjusted during the trial.
Common side effects included loss of appetite, headache, fatigue, and COVID-19. These events were mostly mild. Gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting were minimal.
Lilly is also running two Phase II trials of eloralintide, including one expected to complete this month. Additionally, four more Phase I studies are underway. The drug is being tested both alone and in combination with tirzepatide, in patients with or without type 2 diabetes.
Interest in the amylin drug class has grown rapidly. Roche recently paid $1.65 billion upfront—plus up to $5.3 billion in potential milestones—to license Zealand Pharma’s amylin analog, petrelintide. Similarly, AbbVie committed up to $2.2 billion for rights to Gubra’s long-acting amylin analog, GUB014295.
Amylin hormones work in a way that complements GLP-1s. According to Guggenheim, amylins enhance satiety—making patients feel full more quickly—rather than directly suppressing appetite. They may also help preserve lean muscle mass and offer a better safety profile.
Other companies including AstraZeneca, Metsera, and Novo Nordisk are also advancing amylin candidates. Novo’s cagrilintide is among the most closely watched. It is being studied on its own and with semaglutide in a combination called CagriSema. That combo produced a 22.7% weight loss at 68 weeks in a Phase III trial. However, the company had aimed for 25% weight loss. Falling short of that goal caused shares in Novo Nordisk to drop.
Metsera recently released Phase I results for its long-acting amylin injectable MET-233i. The candidate showed an 8.4% weight loss just 36 days after treatment began.
At the upcoming ADA conference, Lilly is also scheduled to present additional weight loss data. These include Phase III results for its oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron, and Phase II findings for bimagrumab, a monoclonal antibody designed to prevent muscle loss. Lilly acquired bimagrumab through its $1.93 billion purchase of Versanis in July 2023.
