AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:AZN) is advancing its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, elecoglipron, into an extensive Phase 3 development program after the drug delivered significant weight-loss and diabetes-control results in two Phase 2b studies.

The findings, presented at the 2026 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association and published in The Lancet, support the company's efforts to expand its cardiometabolic, renal, and weight-management portfolio.

Elecoglipron is an investigational oral, once-daily, small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone. 

VISTA Trial Demonstrates Significant Weight Reduction

The VISTA study enrolled 310 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one related comorbidity. Participants receiving elecoglipron 75 mg achieved an average body-weight reduction of 10.5% at 26 weeks, compared with 0.6% for placebo.

Weight loss continued through week 36, reaching 11.8% in the treatment group versus 0.3% with placebo.

The trial also met its co-primary endpoint measuring the proportion of participants achieving ...