Eli Lilly Raises 2026 Outlook on GLP-1 Surge, Highlights New Oral Weight-Loss Pill

Eli Lilly posted Q1 revenue of $19.8 billion, a 56 % YoY rise, and earnings of $8.55 per share, beating the $6.66 consensus. Net income climbed to $7.4 billion. The company lifted its revenue target to $82-$85 billion and profit guidance to $35.50-$37 per share.

CNBC

Demand for GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro (diabetes) and Zepbound (obesity) drove the beat. U.S. sales rose 43 % on a 49 % volume increase; overseas revenue jumped 81 % on a 95 % volume surge. Lower realized prices partially offset growth.

CNBC

Mounjaro generated $8.66-$8.7 billion worldwide, including $4.2 billion in the U.S.; Zepbound posted U.S. sales of $4.16-$4.2 billion. Lilly now holds 60.1 % of the U.S. GLP-1 market and 53.2 % internationally, ahead of Novo Nordisk.

CNBC

CEO Dave Ricks described the quarter as comparable to the company’s fifth or sixth consecutive period of strong topline growth and said the firm has additional capacity to expand. President Ilya Yuffa characterized early indicators as positive, and Ricks noted that price reductions have led to a substantial expansion in volume.

CNBC

Analysts flagged lower realized prices and discount deals with the U.S. government as margin pressures. Generic versions of Novo’s semaglutide and tirzepatide, plus Novo’s oral Wegovy, intensify competition. Early Foundayo data were considered insufficient for judgment, and uncertainty remains over Medicare coverage and broader U.S. reimbursement.

Bloomberg

Foundayo began treating roughly 20 000 patients, with about 1 000 new users daily. Approximately 80 % of prescriptions are for patients new to GLP-1 therapy. Telehealth platforms account for roughly 35 % of launch volume, and two major PBMs will start covering the pill next month.

BioPharmaDive

Sources list Mounjaro revenue as $8.66 billion (CNBC) and $8.7 billion (Bloomberg/Reuters); Zepbound U.S. sales appear as $4.16 billion (CNBC) and $4.2 billion (Bloomberg/Reuters). Full-year revenue guidance varies between $82-$85 billion and a $85 billion ceiling. No sales data for Foundayo have been released, leaving early prescription trends uncertain.

CNBC

• “Impressively, it's like our fifth or sixth quarter in a row posting really strong topline growth numbers,” — Dave Ricks, CEO, Eli Lilly

CNBC

• “Early indicators are positive,” — Ilya Yuffa, President, Lilly USA

Reuters

• “Pretty much every time we reduce pricing, we see a pretty large expansion,” — Dave Ricks, CEO, Eli Lilly

Reuters

• “So what we’re seeing now is basically organic demand, which is pretty strong to us.” — Dave Ricks, CEO, Eli Lilly

Bloomberg

• “Expect a relief rally today,” — Jared Holz, Mizuho healthcare specialist

Bloomberg

Lilly expects two of the three largest U.S. pharmacy-benefit managers to begin covering Foundayo next month and seeks FDA approval for a diabetes indication. The agency’s proposed rule to curb bulk compounding of GLP-1 agents could protect market share. Recent acquisitions of Centessa ($7.8 bn), Kelonia ($7 bn) and Ajax ($2.3 bn) signal a push to expand the pipeline, including the experimental drug retatrutide.

Bloomberg