<p><strong>AstraZeneca Plc</strong> (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.</p>



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



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



<h2>VISTA Trial Demonstrates Significant Weight Reduction</h2>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>The trial also met its co-primary endpoint measuring the proportion of participants achieving at least 5% weight loss, with up to 88.8% of patients on elecoglipron reaching that benchmark.</p>



<p>Researchers also reported improvements in exploratory cardiometabolic measures, including reductions in blood pressure and C-reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation.</p>



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<h2>SOLSTICE Trial Shows HbA1c And Weight Benefits</h2>



<p>In the SOLSTICE trial, which enrolled 404 adults with Type 2 diabetes, elecoglipron achieved an average HbA1c reduction of 1.9% at 26 weeks, compared with 0.2% for placebo.</p>



<p>Most patients receiving the treatment reached guideline-recommended glycemic targets. By week 26, 90% recorded HbA1c levels below 7%, while 85% achieved HbA1c levels of 6.5% or lower.</p>



<p>The treatment also produced an average body-weight reduction of 7.7%, compared with 1.7% for placebo.</p>



<h2>Safety Profile And Next Steps</h2>



<p>Across both studies, adverse events were largely gastrointestinal and generally mild to moderate in severity. The most frequently reported events included nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting.</p>



<p>Discontinuations due to adverse events were uncommon, and investigators reported no liver safety signals. Hypoglycemia was infrequent in the diabetes study, with no serious cases linked to treatment.</p>



<p>The Phase 3 development plan includes the EMBOLD trials in obesity and overweight populations, as well as the ELUMINATE studies evaluating elecoglipron alone and in combination with dapagliflozin for Type 2 diabetes.</p>



<p>Additional studies will assess long-term cardiovascular and kidney outcomes.</p>



<h2>AstraZeneca Price Action</h2>



<p><strong>AZN Stock Price Activity</strong>: AstraZeneca shares were up 0.73% at $182.88 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.</p>



<p><em>Photo via Shutterstock</em></p>



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<p>AstraZeneca is advancing its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, elecoglipron, into Phase 3 trials following positive Phase 2b results. The drug demonstrated significant weight loss (up to 11.8%) in obesity patients and improved HbA1c control (90% below 7%) in Type 2 diabetes patients. Safety profiles were manageable with mild gastrointestinal side effects. AstraZeneca shares rose 0.73% to $182.88.</p>

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AstraZeneca's GLP-1 Pill Heads To Late-Stage Trials