Eli Lilly Is Partnering with Gene-Editing Start-up Seamless Therapeutics. Here's What Investors Need to Know.

Core Insights - Eli Lilly is currently the leading manufacturer of GLP-1 drugs, experiencing a significant stock price increase of 225% over the past three years, which has resulted in a high price-to-earnings ratio of 49 and a low yield of 0.6% [2] Group 1: Current Performance - Sales of Mounjaro increased by 99% in 2025, while Zepbound sales surged by 175%, indicating strong performance in the GLP-1 market [3] - Mounjaro and Zepbound together accounted for 56% of Eli Lilly's total sales in 2025, highlighting the company's reliance on these two products for revenue [4] Group 2: Future Challenges - The company faces a potential "patent cliff," where the expiration of patent protection for Mounjaro and Zepbound could lead to a significant decline in sales as generic alternatives enter the market [5] Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - To mitigate long-term risks, Eli Lilly is investing its GLP-1 revenue into new opportunities, including a partnership with Seamless Therapeutics to develop gene editing technology for treating hearing loss [6] - The company has also agreed to acquire Ventyx Biosciences, which is focused on developing oral treatments for inflammation, further diversifying its portfolio [7]