Did Eli Lilly Just Say Checkmate to Novo Nordisk?

Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) has seen revenue soar in recent years thanks to two drugs that have helped people around the world lose weight. The molecule is semaglutide, and it's sold under the name Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss -- but doctors have prescribed either for weight management. And this has made Novo Nordisk leader in a billion-dollar market.But Novo Nordisk isn't alone. It soon was joined by Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), selling similar drugs -- the molecule tirzepatide, approved in 2022 under the name Mounjaro for the diabetes indication and approved a year later as Zepbound for weight loss. Lilly, too, saw revenue take off, quickly joining Novo Nordisk to reign in this high-growth market. Goldman Sachs analysts expect the market for weight loss drugs to hit $130 billion by the end of the decade.Patients self-administer, through injection, the Novo Nordisk and Lilly drugs, and they do this on a weekly basis. The pharma giants aren't stopping there, though. The next big achievement in this billion-dollar race will be the commercialization of a similar drug in oral form. And Lilly just took a major step in the right direction. Did Eli Lilly just say checkmate to Novo Nordisk? Let's find out.Continue reading

Apr 21, 2025 - 09:38

Did Eli Lilly Just Say Checkmate to Novo Nordisk?

Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) has seen revenue soar in recent years thanks to two drugs that have helped people around the world lose weight. The molecule is semaglutide, and it's sold under the name Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss -- but doctors have prescribed either for weight management. And this has made Novo Nordisk leader in a billion-dollar market.

But Novo Nordisk isn't alone. It soon was joined by Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), selling similar drugs -- the molecule tirzepatide, approved in 2022 under the name Mounjaro for the diabetes indication and approved a year later as Zepbound for weight loss. Lilly, too, saw revenue take off, quickly joining Novo Nordisk to reign in this high-growth market. Goldman Sachs analysts expect the market for weight loss drugs to hit $130 billion by the end of the decade.

Patients self-administer, through injection, the Novo Nordisk and Lilly drugs, and they do this on a weekly basis. The pharma giants aren't stopping there, though. The next big achievement in this billion-dollar race will be the commercialization of a similar drug in oral form. And Lilly just took a major step in the right direction. Did Eli Lilly just say checkmate to Novo Nordisk? Let's find out.