Investigational — not approved or available to prescribe.
Main trial result
11.8%
Stage
Phase 3
Timeline (not confirmed)
Not yet known — AstraZeneca has not given a date (Phase 3 began mid-2026)
Form
Daily pill
What it is
Elecoglipron is AstraZeneca's investigational once-daily GLP-1 pill, licensed from Eccogene. Unlike most GLP-1 drugs, which are peptides (protein-like molecules), elecoglipron is a small molecule — a simpler, chemically synthesised compound. In a Phase 2b trial (VISTA), adults with obesity lost an average of 10.5% of their body weight at 26 weeks and 11.8% at 36 weeks at the highest dose tested, without the weight loss plateauing. It is investigational — not approved — and is now moving into Phase 3 trials. Phase 2 results do not always hold up in larger Phase 3 studies.
Why this matters:
Elecoglipron is a small-molecule GLP-1 pill, the same kind of drug as orforglipron (Foundayo, FDA approved April 2026). AstraZeneca states it can be taken once daily with no food or fasting restrictions; the Wegovy pill, by contrast, has to be taken on an empty stomach. These treatments are still under investigation, and results in larger trials may differ from early data.
Development stage and timeline
Current stage:
Phase 2b complete. VISTA (obesity) and SOLSTICE (type 2 diabetes) results were presented at the American Diabetes Association's 2026 Scientific Sessions and published in The Lancet in June 2026. Phase 3 trials began in June 2026 (EMBOLD) and July 2026 (ELUMINATE).
Next milestone:
Phase 3 EMBOLD trials (obesity, with and without type 2 diabetes) and ELUMINATE trials (type 2 diabetes) are underway. Estimated primary completion for the main EMBOLD studies is July 2028 — this is a trial-registry estimate, not a filing or approval date.
How it works
Elecoglipron switches on the GLP-1 receptor — the same target as injectable drugs and other GLP-1 pills — which cuts appetite and slows how fast the stomach empties. What's different is its chemistry: it's a small molecule, a synthesised chemical compound that binds the GLP-1 receptor directly, rather than a peptide, which is a larger, protein-like molecule built from amino acids. Most current GLP-1 drugs, including oral semaglutide, are peptides. AstraZeneca states that elecoglipron, taken as a once-daily pill, has no food or fasting restrictions.
Timeline note: In the Phase 2b VISTA trial, weight loss was 10.5% at 26 weeks and continued rising to 11.8% at 36 weeks at the highest dose tested, without plateauing
Early-stage data
Phase 1 and Phase 2 data only. Phase 3 trials are planned, but not yet complete. Treat these early results with caution.
In trial data, average body weight fell 10.5% at 26 weeks (vs. 0.6% with placebo), continuing to 11.8% at 36 weeks (vs. 0.3% with placebo) without plateauing. In this 75 mg group, 86.1% of participants lost at least 5% of their body weight by 26 weeks.
In trial data, HbA1c fell by 1.9 percentage points on average (vs. 0.2 with placebo); 90% of participants reached an HbA1c below 7% and 85% reached 6.5% or lower. Average weight loss was 7.7% (vs. 1.7% with placebo).
Phase 3 programme
- EMBOLD Study 1: adults with obesity or overweight and a weight-related condition, without type 2 diabetes — started June 2026
- EMBOLD Study 2: adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes — started June 2026
- EMBOLD-Asia: the same design, run in Asian participants with or without type 2 diabetes
- ELUMINATE: several studies in adults with type 2 diabetes, including elecoglipron alone and combined with dapagliflozin — started July 2026
- Elevate-HF: a cardiovascular outcomes trial in people with heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction — recruiting since August 2026
- Kidney outcome trials: planned by AstraZeneca; not yet detailed
Side effects (early-stage data)
Frequencies from Phase 2 trial data. Final Phase 3 safety profile may differ.
Notable findings
- ✓AstraZeneca states no food or fasting restrictions
- ✓Small-molecule pill design that AstraZeneca says is easier to make at scale than peptide-based drugs
- ✓HbA1c fell by 1.9 percentage points on average in people with type 2 diabetes, with 90% reaching an HbA1c below 7% (SOLSTICE)
What this tends to offer vs. what it involves
What this tends to offer
- ✓In a Phase 2b trial (VISTA), average weight loss at the top dose was 10.5% at 26 weeks and 11.8% at 36 weeks
- ✓Once-daily pill — AstraZeneca states no food or fasting restrictions
- ✓Small-molecule design — a simpler chemical structure than peptide-based GLP-1 drugs
- ✓In the two 75 mg groups (different dose-increase schedules), 86.1% and 88.8% of participants lost at least 5% of their body weight by 26 weeks
What this involves
- Still investigational — Phase 2b only; Phase 3 (EMBOLD) trials just began in June 2026
- Nausea (55%), constipation (41%) and diarrhoea (35%) were common at the highest dose tested
- Not designed or powered to compare directly against approved drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound
- No confirmed approval date or price
Sources & references
- [1]VISTA (Phase 2b)310 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related condition, without type 2 diabetes (mean baseline weight 106.9 kg) · 36 weeksAt the 75 mg dose, average weight loss was 10.5% at 26 weeks (vs. 0.6% with placebo) and 11.8% at 36 weeks (vs. 0.3% with placebo), with no plateau. Up to 88.8% of participants lost at least 5% of their body weight by 26 weeks. Most common side effects at 75 mg vs. placebo: nausea (55% vs. 20%), constipation (41% vs. 6%), diarrhoea (35% vs. 25%), vomiting (29% vs. 5%).The Lancet (2026) ↗
- [2]SOLSTICE (Phase 2b)404 adults with type 2 diabetes (mean baseline HbA1c 7.9%) · 26 weeksAt the 75 mg dose, HbA1c fell by an average of 1.9 percentage points (vs. 0.2 with placebo); 90% reached HbA1c below 7% and 85% reached 6.5% or lower. Average weight loss was 7.7% (vs. 1.7% with placebo). Most common side effects at 75 mg vs. placebo: nausea (37% vs. 3%), constipation (29% vs. 4%), diarrhoea (21% vs. 15%), vomiting (18% vs. 1%).The Lancet (2026) ↗