Key Takeaways Viking's oral obesity pill VK2735 cut weight but showed high dropout rates due to side effects.Investors worry oral safety issues could affect VKTX's SC version now in late-stage development.VKTX trades at a premium valuation, with widening 2025 and 2026 loss per share estimates.Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) is one of the few biotech stocks that has shown immense potential in this space. It is developing VK2735, an investigational novel dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, in multiple clinical st ...

Novo Nordisk's new chief executive officer is calling workers back to the office as the Ozempic maker struggles to catch up with Eli Lilly & Co in the hyper-competitive obesity market https://t.co/rS8vnApcu9 ...

Workforce Reduction - Novo is reducing its workforce by 11% [1] Market Strategy - Novo aims to accelerate its efforts to compete with Eli Lilly in the obesity market [1] - The company may adopt strategies similar to its US rival to achieve its goals [1]

Core Viewpoint - Eli Lilly and Company is facing challenges due to global uncertainties and competitive dynamics, but it has strong growth prospects driven by its key products Mounjaro and Zepbound, alongside a robust pipeline of new drugs. Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Dynamics - Eli Lilly's shares have declined by 8.2% in the past month, largely due to global uncertainties from the tariff war and fears of a recession [1] - The stock has outperformed the industry, which has decreased by 4.1%, and the S&P 500 index [15][26] - Despite a 1.7% decline in stock price this year, Lilly's market cap exceeds $700 billion, reflecting a 420.3% increase over the past five years [26] Group 2: Product Performance and Sales Growth - Mounjaro and Zepbound generated combined sales of $16.5 billion in 2024, accounting for approximately 36% of total revenues [3] - Sales growth of Mounjaro and Zepbound was impacted by supply and channel dynamics in the second half of 2024, raising concerns about demand [4] - Lilly expects to launch Mounjaro in new international markets in 2025, which is anticipated to boost sales [6] Group 3: New Drug Approvals and Pipeline - The FDA approved Zepbound for a second indication, which is expected to drive sales higher [7] - Lilly has gained approvals for several new drugs, including Omvoh and Jaypirca, contributing significantly to top-line growth in 2024 [8] - The company is making rapid progress in its pipeline, with several mid to late-stage readouts expected in 2025 [9] Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The obesity market is projected to expand to $100 billion by 2030, with Lilly and Novo Nordisk currently dominating [10] - Several companies, including Amgen and Viking Therapeutics, are developing GLP-1-based candidates that could pose competition to Lilly's products [12] - Other pharmaceutical companies are also entering the obesity space, which may threaten Lilly's market position [14] Group 5: Financial Outlook and Shareholder Returns - Lilly expects revenues in the range of $58.0 billion to $61.0 billion in 2025, indicating a 32% year-over-year growth [27] - The company returned $3 billion to shareholders in 2024 through share repurchases and dividends, and has approved a new $15 billion stock buyback plan [29]