What Is Eloralintide?
Published Jun 22, 2026 · 5 minute read
Eloralintide is an investigational selective amylin receptor agonist from Eli Lilly. Unlike semaglutide or tirzepatide, it does not work through the GLP-1 or GIP incretin pathways at all; it works through amylin, a separate satiety hormone. It is still in clinical trials.
Key Takeaways
- Eloralintide (code name LY3841136) is Eli Lilly's investigational selective amylin receptor agonist.
- It works through the amylin pathway, which is distinct from the GLP-1 and GIP incretin pathways.
- It is not FDA-approved as of June 2026 and is available only to clinical-trial participants.
- In a 48-week Phase 2 trial, Lilly reported mean weight reductions ranging up to about 20.1% versus placebo.
- A Phase 3 program (ENLIGHTEN-1) began recruiting in early 2026.
- Trial results describe population-level research findings, not personal medical expectations.
1. What Is Eloralintide?
Eloralintide is an investigational molecule developed by Eli Lilly. Its development code name is LY3841136. It is a once-weekly subcutaneous peptide designed to selectively activate amylin receptors.
That makes it different from the drugs most people associate with “GLP-1” weight management. Eloralintide is not a GLP-1 or GIP drug at all; it belongs to the amylin family, alongside cagrilintide and petrelintide.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Eloralintide | Lilly’s investigational selective amylin agonist. |
| LY3841136 | The development code name for eloralintide. |
| Amylin | A hormone co-released with insulin that promotes fullness. |
| ENLIGHTEN-1 | Lilly’s Phase 3 program for eloralintide. |
2. How Does Amylin Differ From GLP-1?
Amylin is a pancreatic hormone secreted alongside insulin. Activating amylin receptors promotes satiety, the feeling of fullness, and is associated with reduced calorie intake. This is a distinct pathway from the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP.
| Pathway | Example drugs | Family |
|---|---|---|
| GLP-1 | Semaglutide | Incretin |
| GLP-1 + GIP | Tirzepatide | Incretin (dual) |
| Amylin | Eloralintide, petrelintide, cagrilintide | Amylin |
Because amylin is a complementary pathway, selective amylin agonists are often positioned both as standalone candidates and as future combination partners for incretin drugs. For more on the underlying hormone, see What Is Amylin?.
3. Is Eloralintide FDA-Approved?
No. Eloralintide is not FDA-approved as of June 2026. It is investigational, has no marketed product, and is available only through Eli Lilly clinical trials. Its Phase 3 program began recruiting in early 2026.
4. What Did the Phase 2 Trial Show?
The Phase 2 trial (NCT06230523) was a 48-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 263 adults with obesity or overweight, excluding type 2 diabetes. Lilly reported that all treatment arms met the primary endpoint, with mean weight reductions ranging from roughly 9.5% to 20.1% across doses, versus about 0.4% for placebo. The highest-dose arm reached approximately 20.1% mean weight loss. The most common side effects were mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue, which were dose-dependent. The results were published in The Lancet in late 2025.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Trial | Phase 2, NCT06230523. |
| Population | 263 adults with obesity or overweight, without type 2 diabetes. |
| Time frame | 48 weeks. |
| Reported weight result | Mean reductions up to ~20.1% vs ~0.4% placebo. |
These figures are trial-population averages and do not predict any individual’s outcome.
5. The Phase 3 Program
Eloralintide advanced into Phase 3 with ENLIGHTEN-1 (NCT07321886), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of once-weekly eloralintide in adults with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes. The trial began recruiting in February 2026 with roughly 1,980 planned participants across multiple dose groups plus placebo. A separate Phase 2 trial is studying eloralintide alone or combined with tirzepatide in people who also have type 2 diabetes.
6. Eloralintide and the Amylin Wave
Eloralintide is part of a wider surge of interest in amylin-based weight-management drugs. Here is how the main candidates relate:
- Selective amylin agonists: eloralintide (Lilly) and petrelintide (Zealand/Roche), positioned for tolerability and potential combination use.
- Amylin analog in a combination: cagrilintide (Novo Nordisk), the amylin half of CagriSema, which co-formulates it with semaglutide.
- Single-molecule GLP-1/amylin agonist: amycretin (Novo Nordisk), one molecule hitting both receptors.
7. Where Eloralintide Stands
- Eloralintide is the molecule; LY3841136 is its code name.
- Investigational describes its regulatory status.
- Selective amylin receptor agonist is the accurate mechanism description.
- Amylin, not GLP-1, is the pathway it works through.
8. What Is Eloralintide FAQ
What is eloralintide in simple terms?
Eloralintide is Eli Lilly's investigational once-weekly injection that selectively activates amylin receptors. Amylin is a hormone released with insulin that promotes fullness, so the drug is being studied to reduce calorie intake and support weight management.
Is eloralintide FDA-approved?
No. Eloralintide is investigational and not approved by the FDA or any regulator as of June 2026. It is available only to participants in Eli Lilly clinical trials.
How is amylin different from GLP-1?
GLP-1 and GIP are incretin hormones; drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide act on those pathways. Amylin is a separate hormone co-released with insulin, and it promotes satiety through a distinct, complementary mechanism. Eloralintide is a selective amylin agonist, not an incretin drug.
How much weight loss did eloralintide show?
In a 48-week Phase 2 trial of 263 adults with obesity or overweight (without type 2 diabetes), Lilly reported mean weight reductions ranging from roughly 9.5% to 20.1% across dose arms, versus about 0.4% for placebo. These are trial-population averages, not personal predictions.
How is eloralintide different from cagrilintide or petrelintide?
All three target amylin. Eloralintide (Lilly) and petrelintide (Zealand/Roche) are selective amylin agonists. Cagrilintide (Novo Nordisk) is an amylin analog used as the amylin half of the combination CagriSema. Amycretin is a separate single-molecule GLP-1/amylin agonist.
9. Sources
References used for this article