Eli Lilly raises forecasts on surging international demand for weight-loss drugs

Core Insights - Eli Lilly raised its full-year profit and revenue forecasts due to strong international demand for weight-loss drugs, surpassing Wall Street's third-quarter earnings expectations [1] - The company's shares increased over 5% in premarket trading, despite concerns regarding drug price negotiations with the Trump administration [1] Company Performance - Eli Lilly's CEO attributed the strong performance to continued demand for GLP-1 drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, indicating a robust portfolio [4] - Zepbound sales reached $3.6 billion for the quarter, exceeding expectations of $3.23 billion, despite anticipated softness due to CVS Health dropping it from its preferred list [5] - Mounjaro sales were reported at $6.5 billion, surpassing analysts' average expectation of $5.73 billion, with international sales nearly $1 billion above estimates [7] Market Context - Eli Lilly competes with Novo Nordisk in the weight-loss drug market, projected to reach $150 billion by the end of the decade [2] - The Trump administration's "most favored nation" policy aims to align U.S. drug prices with those in other developed nations, creating uncertainty in the market [2]