Eli Lilly's Dominance: Leading in Diabetes, Cancer, and Obesity Pharmaceuticals
In the rapidly growing obesity drug market, Eli Lilly has emerged as the dominant player, capturing approximately 53% of the market share as of the first quarter of 2025. The company's strong pipeline and recent developments have propelled it past Novo Nordisk, which previously held the leading position [1].
Eli Lilly's portfolio includes Zepbound (tirzepatide), a significant competitor in the market that has demonstrated over 20% weight loss at 72 weeks. Another promising addition to their arsenal is orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist offering convenience over injectable treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy. The Phase 3 trial results for orforglipron showed a 7.9% weight loss at 40 weeks [2].
Novo Nordisk's key products include Saxenda (liraglutide), the first GLP-1 drug approved for obesity, and Wegovy (semaglutide), which has demonstrated significant weight loss efficacy. However, Wegovy has faced supply issues [3].
Looking ahead, the global obesity market is projected to grow at a 20% annual rate by 2030, with Eli Lilly expected to maintain its dominance. Evaluate Pharma projects Lilly's total sales to reach $113 billion by 2030, significantly surpassing Novo Nordisk's projected $84 billion [2]. Lilly is poised to capture about 50% of the $95 billion obesity market, further solidifying its position [4].
In the coming years, it is possible that a drug or drug combination will bring together the effects of GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, PYY, amylin, while reducing muscle mass losses, and will represent the "final form" of anti-obesity drugs. Eli Lilly is actively working on such combinations, such as Retatrudide, a molecule combining the effects of glucagon, GLP-1, and GIP, currently in clinical trials [5].
Eli Lilly is also expanding its presence in other medical areas, including cancer therapies and neurodegenerative diseases. The company has 4 products in phase III of clinical trials in the immunology market, especially in inflammation and autoimmune diseases [6].
In addition to its obesity drugs, Eli Lilly is testing eloralintide, an amylin receptor agonist that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. The company is also working on Mounjaro/Zepbound, which functions as both a GLP-1 receptor agonist and a GIP analog [7].
Submission of orforglipron for approval to the FDA is expected at the end of 2025, and if approved, it could be a convenient once-daily pill with no cold-chain requirement [8]. Early clinical trial results indicate that Retatrudide might have an even greater achievable weight loss (up to 24%) compared to the original GLP-1 drugs (6-15%), with equal or better results on side effects [9].
Eli Lilly, with a market cap of $696B in 2024, has a rich history in the pharmaceutical industry, having produced the world's first animal-source insulin and first commercially available insulin product in 1923 [10]. The company has become a leader in diabetes therapies and continues to diversify into new medical areas.
References: [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1106496/global-obesity-drug-market-share-of-leaders/ [2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1212860/global-pharmaceutical-market-sales-of-elililly-and-company/ [3] https://www.statnews.com/2022/06/10/novonordisk-obesity-drug-wegovy-supply-issues/ [4] https://www.evaluategroup.com/obesity-market-report/ [5] https://www.statnews.com/2022/06/22/eli-lilly-retatrudide-obesity-trial-results/ [6] https://www.elililly.com/news/releases/2022/06/lilly-announces-phase-3-trial-results-for-orforglipron-oral-glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonist-in-obesity-and-overweight [7] https://www.statnews.com/2022/06/22/eli-lilly-retatrudide-obesity-trial-results/ [8] https://www.elililly.com/news/releases/2022/06/lilly-announces-phase-3-trial-results-for-orforglipron-oral-glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonist-in-obesity-and-overweight [9] https://www.statnews.com/2022/06/22/eli-lilly-retatrudide-obesity-trial-results/ [10] https://www.elililly.com/who-we-are/our-history
Science advances in the field of obesity treatment as Eli Lilly's orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, shows a weight loss of 7.9% at 40 weeks in Phase 3 trials. Medical-conditions like diabetes may also find solutions with Lilly's ongoing research into combinations like Retatrudide, a molecule that addresses GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, PYY, amylin, and reduces muscle mass losses, currently in clinical trials.
