Zepbound maker Eli Lilly hits $1T market cap — becoming first drug company to reach milestone

Core Insights - Eli Lilly has reached a market value of $1 trillion, becoming the first drugmaker to achieve this milestone, highlighting its significant growth in the weight-loss drug market [1] - The company's stock has surged over 35% this year, primarily driven by the booming demand for obesity treatments, which are now a highly lucrative segment in healthcare [1][7] - Lilly's recent stock performance has outpaced the broader US equity market, with a 75% increase since the launch of its drug Zepbound in late 2023 [3][4] Financial Performance - In the latest quarter, Lilly reported combined revenue exceeding $10.09 billion from its obesity and diabetes portfolio, which constituted more than half of its total revenue of $17.6 billion [5][9] - The company is trading at a high valuation of approximately 50 times its anticipated earnings for the next 12 months, reflecting strong investor confidence in the sustained demand for obesity drugs [4] Market Outlook - The weight-loss drug market is projected to reach $150 billion by 2030, with Lilly and Novo Nordisk expected to dominate global sales [6] - Investors are particularly focused on Lilly's upcoming oral obesity drug, orforglipron, anticipated to receive approval early next year, which is expected to capitalize on the success of existing injectable drugs [6] Strategic Developments - Lilly has entered a deal with the White House to reduce prices for its weight-loss drugs, alongside planned investments to expand drug production, which are expected to support its growth trajectory [9][12] - Analysts are monitoring whether Lilly can maintain its growth amidst potential pricing pressures on its drugs and the effectiveness of its scale-up plans and diversified pipeline [11]