Lilly(US:LLY) CNBC·2025-12-11 11:45Core Insights - Eli Lilly's next-generation obesity drug, retatrutide, has shown promising results in a late-stage study, demonstrating significant weight loss and pain reduction in knee arthritis patients [1][3][5] Weight Loss Results - The highest dose of retatrutide led to an average weight loss of 23.7% over 68 weeks, including all participants, and 28.7% for those who completed the treatment [2][8] - The drug is positioned as a key component of Eli Lilly's obesity portfolio, following its existing weight loss injection Zepbound [3][4] Pain Reduction in Knee Osteoarthritis - Retatrutide also achieved a reduction in knee osteoarthritis pain by up to 62.6% on average, with over 12.5% of patients reporting complete relief from knee pain by the trial's end [5][6] Market Position and Competition - Eli Lilly aims to maintain its market share against Novo Nordisk in the expanding weight loss and diabetes drug market, which could reach approximately $100 billion by the 2030s [4] - Novo Nordisk is actively pursuing competitive options, including a newly acquired drug that employs a similar three-pronged approach to weight loss [10][11] Side Effects and Dropout Rates - Approximately 18% of patients on the highest dose discontinued treatment due to side effects, significantly higher than the 4% in the placebo group [7] - Common side effects included nausea (43%), diarrhea (33%), and vomiting (20.9%) [7] Future Trials - The study, named TRIUMPH-4, is part of a broader research effort, with seven additional phase three trials expected to report findings by the end of 2026 [8]