Eli Lilly's Foundayo Outperforms Oral Semaglutide in Indirect Comparison

The findings, unveiled in Milan, draw on indirect treatment comparisons using data from the ACHIEVE-3 and PIONEER PLUS clinical trials. Adjusted for baseline characteristics like gender, age, and weight, participants treated with Foundayo 17.2 mg experienced an average of 1.5% greater body weight loss and a 0.3% larger reduction in A1C levels at the 52-week mark compared to those on 25 mg of oral semaglutide.

While head-to-head clinical trials remain the gold standard for pharmaceutical evaluation, researchers noted that these indirect models provide critical data points for clinicians navigating treatment options. According to Rachel Batterham, senior vice president of medical innovation at Lilly, the efficacy of Foundayo combined with its simplified administration—which requires no fasting or water restrictions—positions the drug as a foundational therapy for diabetes care. These results follow the initial successes of the ACHIEVE-3 study, where Foundayo demonstrated significant metabolic improvements against lower-dose oral semaglutide comparators.