*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Aug. 17, 2025. The video was published on Aug. 19, 2025. I ranked Eli Lilly as one of the best stocks to buy starting in 2025. Eli Lilly (LLY -2.44%) stock investors need to be aware of these details before making a decision to buy or sell the stock. ...

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that Anne White, executive vice president and president, Lilly Neuroscience, will be retiring from Lilly after 30 years of service, effective Dec. 31, 2025. She will continue to serve in her role and as a member of Lilly's Executive Committee until her retirement date. An internal and external search is underway for her successor. "Anne's career has been defined by a deep commitment to advancing medicines for some ...

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley believes that Eli Lilly's management sees the weight loss drug market evolving into a "super category" market, emphasizing the strategic value of the oral GLP-1 drug Orforglipron, which is expected to become a key successful product for the company [1][3]. Group 1: Market Outlook - Eli Lilly's management is extremely optimistic about the weight loss drug market, anticipating it will develop into a "super category" consisting of multiple drugs [3][6]. - The company is positioned favorably in this market due to its broad product portfolio across treatment lines, as management believes that current offerings like Semaglutide cannot meet global patient demand [6][10]. Group 2: Product Focus - The oral GLP-1 drug Orforglipron is highlighted as a new growth engine, with management expressing high confidence in its prospects, supported by favorable Phase III trial data [7]. - Orforglipron is expected to cover a significant range of weight loss effects, with management noting that only one-third of patients use the highest dose of existing injectable options [7]. Group 3: Pricing Strategy - Eli Lilly has established a clear tiered pricing strategy to address competition in the weight loss drug market, with Semaglutide positioned as a mid-tier product and Orforglipron priced slightly lower [8][9]. - The company anticipates that competitors will maintain disciplined pricing in the short term, although the behavior of later entrants remains uncertain [9]. Group 4: Market Access Strategy - Four key drivers for expanding market access for GLP-1 weight loss drugs have been identified: obtaining more indication approvals, favorable pharmacoeconomic studies, differentiated commercial benefit plans, and government coverage decisions [10]. - Eli Lilly aims to achieve broad coverage before the entry of generic Semaglutide, with management emphasizing the importance of innovation and a strong product portfolio in the face of anticipated generic competition [10].

Group 1 - Friedrich Global Research aims to identify the safest and best performing companies for stock investment, focusing on free cash flow, efficient capital allocation, and superior results to find high-quality management teams [1] Group 2 - The founder of Bern Factor LLC has nearly 40 years of investing and analysis experience, with expertise in both quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as technical analysis [2] - The founder has a diverse background, having worked in various sectors including retail, military, and management, which provides a broad perspective on macroeconomics and detailed operational insights [2]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley's analyst team expresses strong optimism regarding Eli Lilly's management outlook on the weight loss drug market, predicting it will evolve into a "super category" market [1][5][6] Market Positioning - Eli Lilly's CEO indicated that the weight loss drug market will develop into a "super category" consisting of multiple drugs, with the company positioned favorably due to its broad product portfolio across treatment lines [5][6] Product Pipeline and Development - Eli Lilly's management believes that semaglutide alone cannot meet global patient demand, leading to market segmentation based on weight loss and blood sugar control effects, different administration routes, and dosing frequency [6][9] - The company is developing a comprehensive product pipeline to address various market segments, claiming to have the largest and most successful R&D portfolio in its history [6][7] Key Product: Orforglipron - The oral GLP-1 drug Orforglipron is highlighted as a significant growth driver, with management expressing high confidence in its potential [7] - Orforglipron is expected to cover a wide range of weight loss effects, with management noting that only one-third of patients use the highest dose of Wegovy, indicating room for growth [7] Pricing Strategy - Eli Lilly has established a clear tiered pricing strategy for its weight loss drugs, with semaglutide as a mid-tier product, Orforglipron priced slightly lower, and high-efficiency injectables like Retatrutide positioned at the premium end [8] - The management anticipates that competitors will maintain disciplined pricing in the short term, but future entrants may introduce uncertainty [8] Market Access Strategy - The management identified four key drivers for expanding market access for GLP-1 weight loss drugs: obtaining more indication approvals, favorable pharmacoeconomic studies, differentiated commercial benefit plans, and government coverage decisions [9] - Eli Lilly aims to achieve broad coverage before the entry of generic versions of semaglutide, emphasizing the importance of innovation and a strong product portfolio [9]

Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics Inc. experienced its largest single-day stock drop, falling 42%, primarily due to disappointing mid-stage trial results of its experimental oral weight-loss drug, which led to significant short-seller profits [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Reaction - The stock price of Viking Therapeutics fell by 42%, resulting in a single-day profit of $521 million for short-sellers, reversing their earlier losses of approximately $140 million [1]. - The annual profit for short-sellers reached over $380 million following the stock's decline [1]. Group 2: Clinical Trial Results - The decline in stock price was attributed to adverse side effects from the weight-loss drug, with about 28% of patients dropping out of the trial within three months [1]. - High rates of nausea and vomiting were reported across all treatment groups, overshadowing efficacy data [1]. Group 3: Analyst Outlook - Despite the recent stock drop, nearly 90% of analysts covering Viking Therapeutics maintain a "buy" rating, with an average target price of around $90, indicating over three times potential upside [2]. - Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Jay Olson reiterated a "outperform" rating with a target price of $100, suggesting that the market's concerns regarding the drug's tolerability may be overestimated [2].

Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics' stock plummeted nearly 44% following disappointing mid-stage trial results for its oral weight loss drug VK2735, raising concerns about its competitiveness against established players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [1][3]. Group 1: Company Performance - Viking Therapeutics' stock opened down nearly 44%, marking its largest intraday drop since April 2016, with a market capitalization of $2.65 billion [1][2]. - The company reported that VK2735 could help patients lose up to 12.2% of their weight, with 80% of participants losing more than 10% [3]. - However, approximately 28% of patients dropped out of the trial within three months, which negatively impacted investor confidence [3][4]. Group 2: Industry Context - Eli Lilly's oral weight loss drug Orforglipron also faced a stock drop of over 14% after its trial results showed a 12.4 kg average weight loss over 72 weeks, with 59.6% of participants losing at least 10% of their weight [6]. - Despite the drop, analysts believe the sell-off was an overreaction, citing the strength of Eli Lilly's core growth drivers [6][7]. - Comparatively, Viking's trial results appear less favorable due to the shorter trial duration and higher dropout rates, which could hinder its market position [7].

Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics experienced a significant stock drop of nearly 44%, marking its largest intraday decline since April 2016, following disappointing mid-term trial data for its oral weight loss drug VK2735 [2][5]. Group 1: Viking Therapeutics - The mid-term trial data for VK2735 indicated that patients could lose up to 12.2% of their weight, with 80% of participants reporting a weight loss exceeding 10% [5]. - However, approximately 28% of patients withdrew from the trial within three months, raising concerns about the drug's competitiveness against offerings from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [6]. - In contrast, last year, Viking Therapeutics reported positive results from the second phase of VK2735 trials, where patients on weekly doses lost an average of 14.7% of their weight after 13 weeks [6]. Group 2: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's oral weight loss drug Orforglipron showed positive results in its phase three clinical trial, with participants losing an average of 12.4 kg (approximately 12.4%) after 72 weeks [9]. - Following the announcement of Orforglipron's results, Eli Lilly's stock fell over 14%, resulting in a market cap loss of about $100 billion [10]. - Despite the initial drop, analysts believe the sell-off was an overreaction, as Eli Lilly's core growth drivers remain strong, and Orforglipron has significant global market potential [10].

Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics' stock plummeted nearly 44% following disappointing mid-term trial data for its oral weight loss drug VK2735, raising concerns about its competitiveness against established players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [2][3]. Group 1: Viking Therapeutics - Viking Therapeutics reported that its VK2735 can help patients lose up to 12.2% of their weight, with 80% of participants losing over 10% [3]. - Approximately 28% of patients dropped out of the trial within three months, which negatively impacted investor confidence [3]. - The company previously saw its stock price increase over 400% last year, peaking at $99.41 per share [4]. Group 2: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's oral weight loss drug Orforglipron showed a weight loss of 12.4 kg (approximately 12.4%) after 72 weeks of treatment at the highest dose [5]. - Following the announcement of Orforglipron's trial results, Eli Lilly's stock fell over 14%, resulting in a market cap loss of about $100 billion [6]. - Analysts believe the sell-off was an overreaction, as Eli Lilly's core growth drivers remain strong, and Orforglipron has advantages such as ease of use and global market potential [6][7].

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk is offering its diabetes drug Ozempic for $499 per month to eligible cash-paying type 2 diabetes patients in the U.S. This follows a similar price cut for its weight-loss drug Wegovy, which is also priced at $499 [1][4] - Eli Lilly has announced plans to expand the supply and reduce costs of its weight-loss drug Zepbound, enhancing access for uninsured patients through its self-pay pharmacy [2][4] - Novo Nordisk's Ozempic will be available through its NovoCare pharmacy program and in partnership with telehealth service GoodRx, also at the price of $499 per month [6] Company Performance - Novo Nordisk's stock price increased by 4.60%, closing at $54.39 following the announcement of the price cut for Wegovy [4] - Eli Lilly's stock price rose by 2.68%, reaching $701.23, as it benefits from the increased demand for its weight-loss drugs [6] - GoodRx's stock price surged nearly 30% to $5.06 after the announcement of the partnership with Novo Nordisk [7] Market Context - The U.S. administration, under President Trump, is focused on lowering drug prices, with an executive order aimed at aligning U.S. drug prices with those in other countries [7][10] - A notable example highlighted by Trump involved a significant price discrepancy for the same drug purchased in New York and London, emphasizing the ongoing issue of high drug costs in the U.S. [10]