Eli Lilly's Most Promising Weight Loss Drug May Come With a Surprising Benefit: Pain Relief

Core Insights - The rising popularity of weight loss drugs is a significant factor contributing to the increasing value of healthcare company Eli Lilly, particularly through its leading GLP-1 drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, which are generating billions in revenue each quarter [1] Group 1: GLP-1 Drug Developments - Eli Lilly is developing a GLP-1 drug that has shown potential for pain relief in recent trials, indicating additional benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar control [2] - Retatrutide, a promising new drug from Eli Lilly, targets multiple hormones (GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon) and has shown early positive results in trials [4] - In a recent phase 3 trial, patients taking a 12-milligram dosage of retatrutide lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight over 68 weeks, outperforming the 26.6% average weight loss seen with tirzepatide [5] Group 2: Market Potential and Growth - The expansion of GLP-1 drugs to include benefits such as pain relief, treatment for sleep apnea, and reduced cardiovascular risk could significantly enhance Eli Lilly's growth by increasing demand and insurance coverage [6] - Retatrutide's trial results suggest it may be superior to existing GLP-1 medications, with many participants reporting complete relief from knee pain by the end of the study [7] - The FDA approved Zepbound in 2024 for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, indicating potential for further indications and growth for Eli Lilly [8]