里程碑时刻！礼来成为首个万亿美元药企

Core Viewpoint - The rapid growth of the weight loss drug market has propelled Eli Lilly to become the first pharmaceutical company with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion, joining the trillion-dollar club primarily composed of technology companies [1][3]. Group 1: Market Performance - Eli Lilly's stock price reached $1061.17, resulting in a market capitalization surpassing $1 trillion, while the second-highest pharmaceutical company, Johnson & Johnson, has a market cap of $470 billion, and Novo Nordisk, the developer of the popular weight loss drug semaglutide, has a market cap of $210 billion [3]. - In the first three quarters of this year, global sales of tirzepatide reached $24.837 billion, narrowing the gap with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide sales of $25.462 billion, indicating a strong potential for tirzepatide to claim the title of the top-selling drug this year [6]. Group 2: Product Development and Clinical Research - Tirzepatide, a new generation weight loss drug targeting GLP-1R and GIPR, has shown superior weight loss effects compared to semaglutide in head-to-head clinical trials, making it the most potent approved weight loss drug [3][6]. - GLP-1 class drugs are transforming the weight loss market, with multiple clinical studies confirming additional health benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar control, such as preventing heart attacks, alleviating sleep apnea, treating fatty liver, and even potential anti-aging effects [6]. Group 3: Strategic Agreements and Future Outlook - Eli Lilly has recently reached an agreement with the U.S. government to lower the price of tirzepatide for certain patients, aiming to boost sales volume [6]. - Investors are optimistic about Eli Lilly's ongoing sales growth of its cancer drug Verzenio, projected to reach $5.3 billion in 2024, and its psoriasis treatment Taltz, expected to achieve $3.2 billion in 2024, as well as the company's research potential in other areas such as Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases [6]. Group 4: Company Transformation - Eli Lilly has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, moving from a period of pressure on sales and profits due to patent expirations of older drugs to successfully reforming its R&D mechanisms and accelerating drug development processes [7].