Let's get more now on the story. Pharma and biotech reporter Anukica Kim Constantino. Anukica, what's the story here.Is this pill going to be ready soon. >> Right. So, thanks for having me on today.So, basically the news today is that Lily has trial data showing that its obesity pill could be an effective maintenance treatment for people that want to preserve their weight loss but don't want to keep taking weekly injections like Wgoian Zepbound. So in this trial, they basically followed people that initiall ...

Eli Lilly shares have climbed in the double digits this year.Generally, investors turn to pharmaceutical stocks to add an element of safety to their portfolios. These stocks aren't known for rapid growth, but instead, for steady growth that you can count on over time -- this reliability is due to the fact that patients need their medicines, and that supports drugmakers' revenue through any economic environment.But in recent years, one pharma stock in particular has been behaving like a growth stock -- in fa ...

Core Insights - Zealand Pharma has announced a five-year strategy called "Metabolic Frontier 2030" to enhance its anti-obesity portfolio amid increasing competition in the market [2][3] - The company aims for five drug launches, at least ten clinical pipeline programs, and industry-leading cycle times by 2030 [2] - Zealand's shares have dropped 29% year-to-date, reflecting investor concerns about market fragmentation and competition [2] Company Strategy - The strategy will leverage strategic partnerships, accelerated drug development, and expanded research capabilities to create a valuable metabolic health pipeline [3] - Zealand Pharma is focusing on candidates with greater potential for clinical differentiation, having paused development of a dual agonist due to market saturation [8] Drug Development - One of Zealand's promising drugs, petrelintide, targets the pancreatic amylin hormone and has shown moderate side effects in early-stage trials [4] - Mid-stage data for petrelintide is expected early next year, while data for its dual GLP-1 agonist, survodutide, will be available throughout 2026 [4] Market Dynamics - Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly currently dominate the weight loss drug market, with analysts predicting the market could reach $150 billion annually by the start of the next decade [5] - Eli Lilly has gained investor favor due to its effective weight loss drugs and diverse portfolio, while Novo Nordisk is experiencing significant stock declines [6][7] Competitive Landscape - Big Pharma companies like AstraZeneca, Amgen, and Pfizer are also entering the obesity drug market, aiming to capture market share from Lilly and Novo [9] - Analysts believe that while Lilly may hold over 50% of the global market share, this will stabilize as competitors launch next-generation drugs [10] Partnerships and Research - Zealand Pharma has entered an agreement with OTR Therapeutics to develop oral small molecule treatments for metabolic diseases, involving an upfront payment of $20 million and potential milestones worth up to $2.5 billion [11] - The company plans to open a new research site in Boston, combining its peptide drug expertise with AI-driven drug discovery [12]

Core 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]

Core Insights - Eli Lilly's stock has surpassed $1,000, driven by strong demand in the weight loss drug market, particularly for its products Mounjaro and Zepbound [1][4] - The company has seen over 100% stock growth in the past three years, with expectations for continued growth in both the short and long term [2] - A potential new growth driver is the weight loss pill orforglipron, which may significantly boost revenue starting in 2026 [5][9] Company Performance - Mounjaro and Zepbound are dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists that have contributed to a revenue increase of over 50% in the third quarter [3][4] - Eli Lilly's current market capitalization is approximately $989 billion, with a gross margin of 83.03% and a dividend yield of 0.57% [7] Product Development - Orforglipron is positioned to be the world's first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist without dietary restrictions, potentially expanding the addressable market for Eli Lilly [8] - The company is investing billions in manufacturing capacity in Puerto Rico and Europe to support the production of orforglipron and other oral medications [7]

Market Trends & Dynamics - Weight loss drugs originally intended for obese individuals are now marketed for general weight loss [2] - Off-label Ozempic prescriptions for non-obese, overweight, or diabetic individuals increased from 3% in 2018 to 30% in 2023 [2] - Off-label Wegovy prescriptions rose as high as 38% [3] - Telehealth companies are broadly marketing GLP-1 drugs, even to individuals wanting to lose a few pounds [3][7] Regulatory & Legal Landscape - The FDA has sent warning letters to telehealth companies regarding their marketing practices, but without significant legal action [9][10] - Pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have sued some telehealth firms for marketing compounded versions of their drugs [10] - Pharmaceutical companies face strict regulations on marketing claims, while telehealth companies have more leeway [6][7] - The industry is awaiting further action from the federal government regarding compounding and telehealth companies [11] Company Strategies & Competition - Shortages of weight loss shots from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk allowed telehealth companies to emerge [5] - Now that shortages are resolved, there is tension between pharmaceutical giants and telehealth companies competing for market share [6] - Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk originally created the GLP-1 class of weight loss shots [4] Risks & Concerns - The risks of compounded versions of weight loss drugs are understudied [2][5] - Medical professionals are concerned that advertisements for these drugs are perpetuating diet culture issues [8] - Doctors do not recommend these drugs for individuals at a healthy weight due to unknown long-term effects [8] - Side effects of GLP-1 drugs can include extreme nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal issues [8]

Core Insights - Eli Lilly has achieved a market capitalization exceeding one trillion dollars, becoming the first health industry company to reach this milestone [2][4] - The company's growth is primarily driven by the rising demand for weight loss drugs, particularly its offerings tirzepatide, Mounjaro, and Zepbound [5][8] Financial Performance - Eli Lilly's stock price has increased by 35% this year, significantly contributing to its market valuation [5] - In the third quarter, the company generated over $10 billion from its weight loss drugs, which accounted for more than half of its total sales of $17.6 billion during that period [7] - By October, the weight loss drugs had already generated $25 billion in revenue, surpassing the company's total revenue for the entire year of 2020 [8] Competitive Landscape - Eli Lilly is in a competitive race with Novo Nordisk, which is also seeking FDA approval for its oral weight loss drug [9] - Both companies are reducing prices for their injectable weight loss drugs in response to calls from the Trump administration [9][10] - Despite Eli Lilly's success, Novo Nordisk has faced a decline in investor confidence, with its stock value dropping sharply in 2025 [11] Innovation and Future Prospects - Eli Lilly is developing a new oral weight loss drug, orforglipron, which is a candidate for early FDA approval [8] - The company emphasizes a shift in focus from merely delivering medicine to providing personalized and accessible healthcare solutions [13]

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk has made a strategic move in the weight loss drug market by reducing prices for its products, Ozempic and Wegovy, to remain competitive against Eli Lilly's offerings [9][10] - The competition between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly is intensifying, particularly in the weight loss drug segment, which has seen significant growth in recent years [2][12] - Despite price cuts, demand for weight loss drugs remains high, suggesting that both companies can coexist and thrive in this expanding market [11][12] Company Strategies - Novo Nordisk's first-to-market advantage with semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) has been challenged by Eli Lilly's tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), which has shown superior efficacy in clinical trials [5][7] - Novo has reduced the price of its weight loss drugs to $349 monthly from $499 for existing patients, with an introductory offer of $199 for new patients for the lowest doses [9][10] - Eli Lilly has also cut prices for its weight loss drugs, indicating a competitive pricing strategy in response to market dynamics [10] Market Dynamics - The weight loss drug market is projected to reach nearly $100 billion by the end of the decade, highlighting significant growth potential for both companies [12] - Health insurance coverage for these drugs is more common for Type 2 diabetes than for weight loss alone, leading to a higher number of self-pay patients [8] - The competition is not solely based on price; patient satisfaction and availability of products will also play crucial roles in market share retention [11]

the president speaking uh plan news conference to discuss prescription drug prices. We're going to toss to that right now. >> I haven't heard anything.>> Someday maybe it'll come out which will notify you immediately but so far I haven't heard that including the drugs known as zeppound and we goi often called oepic. This is a triumph for American patients that will save lives and improve the health of millions and millions of Americans. Amazing thing. They are amazing.I want to thank Eli Liy CEO David Ricks ...

Core Insights - The weight loss and diabetes drug market is experiencing significant growth, driven by demand for effective treatments and new competitors entering the space [1][3] - Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk remain the leading companies, with Eli Lilly gaining market share and accounting for nearly 60% of prescriptions in the injectable obesity and diabetes class [2][9] - The market is projected to reach approximately $100 billion by the end of the decade, with a potential 25 to 50 million U.S. patients using GLP-1s by 2030 [3][12] Market Dynamics - Eli Lilly has outperformed Novo Nordisk, increasing its market share from 53% in Q1 to 57% in Q2 of the current year, attributed to superior efficacy and safety of its drugs [9][10] - Novo Nordisk is facing challenges, including a nearly 40% drop in stock value this year and a need to cut its workforce by 11.5% to regain market footing [11][14] - The competition is intensifying, with many pharmaceutical companies investing in obesity drugs, often through partnerships with smaller developers [4][42] Access and Coverage Issues - Access to GLP-1s remains limited due to insurance coverage gaps, with many insurers not covering obesity treatments, leading to high out-of-pocket costs for patients [5][23] - Coverage for GLP-1s for obesity has slightly increased, with 36% of surveyed companies providing such coverage, up from 34% in 2024 [24] - Employers are hesitant to cover these high-cost drugs due to concerns about long-term patient adherence and potential weight regain [25][28] Future Developments - Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are working on oral formulations of GLP-1s, which could significantly change market dynamics and improve patient access [30][34] - Analysts predict that oral pills could capture around 24% of the weight loss drug market by 2030, with Eli Lilly expected to lead this segment [34][35] - The success of new oral treatments will depend on their pricing and effectiveness compared to existing injectable options [40][39] Competitive Landscape - The market is seeing a variety of new entrants and experimental drugs, with companies exploring different mechanisms for weight loss and less frequent dosing [41][42] - Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are also looking into new hormone-targeting treatments to expand their portfolios beyond current offerings [45][46] - The competitive landscape is evolving, with potential partnerships between smaller biotech firms and larger pharmaceutical companies to enhance drug development [51]