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This Company Is Doubling Down on AI. Is the Stock a Buy?
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-17 02:45
Core Insights - Eli Lilly is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance drug discovery, partnering with Nvidia to invest up to $1 billion over five years in an innovation lab [2][3] - The company has a strong market position in weight management drugs, with its product tirzepatide becoming the best-selling drug globally, contributing to a 54% year-over-year revenue growth to $17.6 billion in Q3 [6] - Eli Lilly is diversifying its pipeline beyond its core therapeutic areas, with recent approvals in eczema, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease, and aims to launch more products in the next five years [8][9] Investment Potential - The AI initiatives may not yield immediate results, but they position Eli Lilly as a potential leader in transforming drug discovery [5] - The company has demonstrated consistent dividend growth, increasing its dividend by 103.5% over the past five years, making it an attractive option for dividend-seeking investors [10]
Veru(VERU) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-08 13:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Research and development costs increased to $3.9 million from $3.0 million in the prior quarter, attributed to expenses related to the Innovus Arm Phase 2b quality clinical study [23] - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $5.2 million from $5.9 million in the prior quarter, primarily due to a decrease in share-based compensation [24] - The net loss for continuing operations was $7.9 million or $0.05 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $8.7 million or $0.06 per diluted common share in the prior year's quarter [24] - Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balance was $20 million as of March 31, 2025, down from $24.9 million as of September 30, 2024 [29] - The company reported a net loss from discontinued operations of $49,000 or $0.00 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $1.3 million or $0.01 per diluted common share in the prior quarter [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on its obesity program, specifically the drug candidates enobosarb and sebisibulin, with a significant emphasis on the Phase 2b quality clinical study for enobosarb [5][16] - The Phase 2b clinical trial demonstrated a 71% preservation of total lean body mass in patients receiving enobosarb plus semaglutide versus placebo plus semaglutide [10] - Enobosarb treatment resulted in a 46% greater relative loss of fat mass compared to placebo plus semaglutide, indicating a shift towards more selective fat loss [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The prevalence of obesity is reported at 41.5% among 47.4 million patients enrolled in Medicare Part D plans, with 34.4% of patients over the age of 60 having obesity in the United States [22] - Sarcopenic obesity, characterized by obesity and low muscle mass, poses a significant risk for older patients, highlighting the market potential for the company's drug candidates [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to focus exclusively on drug development following the sale of the FC2 female condom business, allowing for a more concentrated effort on its clinical programs [28] - Upcoming catalysts include the unblinded safety data for the Phase 2b quality study and regulatory clarity from the FDA regarding the Phase 3 program [16][30] - The company aims to propose a Phase 3 clinical program that is similar to the positive Phase 2b quality trial, targeting older patients with obesity or overweight [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in having sufficient cash to last into the fourth quarter of the calendar year, allowing time to navigate upcoming clinical data releases and regulatory meetings [34] - The company is in active discussions for potential partnerships to secure non-dilutive funding for the Phase 3 program, emphasizing the unique value proposition of its drug candidates [37] - Management highlighted the importance of demonstrating the ability to maintain muscle mass while promoting fat loss, which is a key differentiator in the obesity treatment landscape [38] Other Important Information - The company recognized a gain on the sale of NTAPI assets of $974,000, contributing positively to its financial results [24] - The cash generated from the sale of the FC2 business was approximately $16.3 million, which will support ongoing operations and drug development efforts [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could you talk about your cash balance and runway options for funding the Phase 3? - Management indicated that there is enough cash to last into the fourth quarter and is exploring non-dilutive funding options, including partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies [34][37] Question: What outcomes would be considered a success for the Phase 2b extension maintenance study? - Success would be defined by the ability to blunt fat regain and potentially cause additional fat loss while maintaining muscle mass after stopping GLP-1 treatment [46][50] Question: What is the expected size of the Phase 3 study and concerns regarding tariffs? - The Phase 3 study is expected to involve approximately 400 patients, and management does not foresee significant tariff-related issues affecting the cost of goods for enobosarb [58][59]