Eli Lilly's diabetes drug shows promise in mid-stage trial

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co said on Thursday data from mid-stage trial of its experimental diabetes drug showed clinically meaningful blood sugar reduction and weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. Data from the six-month study showed that the drug significantly reduced blood sugar levels by up to 2.4 percent and an average weight reduction of up to 12.7 percent, Lilly said in a statement. The company said it intends to complete its late-stage study for the drug in late 2021, and is also evaluating the drug for treating obesity, among other conditions. About 30 million adults in the United States have diabetes, with 90 to 95 percent of them suffering from type 2 diabetes, according to Lilly. Lilly’s wide portfolio of diabetes drugs, including Humalog and Trulicity, contributed at least 38 percent to its total sales of $6.36 billion in the last quarter.