TLDR
- Eli Lilly’s obesity pill Foundayo recorded 1,390 U.S. prescriptions in its debut week, ended April 10.
- Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy had 3,071 prescriptions in just its first four days after launching January 5.
- A late-stage trial of 2,700 patients showed Foundayo cut the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by 16% vs. insulin glargine.
- The same study found Foundayo lowered the risk of death from any cause by 57%.
- LLY rose nearly 3% in premarket trading following the prescription and trial data release.
Eli Lilly’s newly approved obesity pill Foundayo is picking up early prescription numbers, though it still trails rival Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy out of the gate.
Foundayo received FDA approval on April 1 for weight loss. Prescriptions were accepted immediately through LillyDirect, with shipping beginning April 6. Broad availability through U.S. retail pharmacies and telehealth providers came on April 9.
As of the week ended April 10, Foundayo had been prescribed 1,390 times in the U.S., according to IQVIA data cited by an analyst. That compares to Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy, which hit 3,071 prescriptions in just its first four days after launching on January 5.
Novo’s oral Wegovy logged 113,354 U.S. prescriptions in the same week, up from 105,366 the week prior.
Lilly has told investors to expect volatile weekly and daily capture rate data early in the launch. The weekly figures include retail prescriptions alongside samples from telehealth, LillyDirect, and mail order channels, according to Guggenheim analysts.
LLY rose nearly 3% in premarket trading after the numbers hit.
Foundayo Shows Heart and Mortality Benefits in Trial
Alongside the prescription data, Lilly released results from a late-stage cardiovascular trial involving 2,700 patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity who were at elevated cardiovascular risk.
Foundayo lowered the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by 16% compared to insulin glargine, a long-acting insulin sold under brands including Sanofi’s Lantus and Lilly’s own Basaglar.
The drug also cut the risk of death from any cause by 57% in the study. Foundayo improved A1C levels and body weight at 52 weeks.
The FDA had previously asked Lilly for additional post-marketing studies on potential liver injury. The trial included a liver safety analysis, and Lilly said no liver safety concerns were found. That result was consistent with earlier studies.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh said the liver safety data should ease fears that Foundayo carries unique liver risks compared to competitors like oral Wegovy.
Lilly Eyes Diabetes Approval for Foundayo
Lilly plans to use the trial data to seek FDA approval of Foundayo for type 2 diabetes. The company said it will submit an application by the end of Q2, using the Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher to target a faster FDA decision.
The FDA approved Foundayo for weight loss earlier this month, intensifying competition with Novo Nordisk, whose oral Wegovy has been on the market since January.
Novo’s oral Wegovy logged 113,354 U.S. prescriptions in the week ended April 10.
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