After a set of setbacks for Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly hardly saw the Danish group in its rear view mirror. But the situation could change. The results of the study on the oral version of its treatment against obesity fell. And they strongly disappoint.
Before returning, a word on financial performance. The group has signed an excellent quarter. In a sector shaken politically, the Eli Lilly action experienced record volatility in 2025: 38.3%, unheard of since 1972, its second year of rating. If the title is stable over a year, the credibility of the laboratory has been strengthened.
Eli Lilly is now seen as the highly coveted obesity market leader, estimated at 150 billion dollars by 2030. According to IQVIA data, Zepbound’s orders now represent 60% of prescriptions. Especially since the political trend is definitely at ‘made in America’, which could benefit Eli Lilly in the face of its European competitor.
In the second quarter, adjusted action per share jumped 61% to $ 6.31, much above expectations. The turnover reaches $ 15.6 billion, brought by high demand for Zepbound and Mounjaro. The latter, indicated in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, generated $ 5.20 billion in sales, compared to 4.74 billion anticipated. Zepbound, authorized against obesity, reached 3.38 billion, again above forecasts.
With these results, Eli Lilly slightly raises her forecast for annual turnover, now expected between 60 and $ 62 billion (compared to 58 to 61 billion before).
But the pill does not pass
The enthusiasm linked to the results quickly evaporated after the publication. The fault of Disappointing results of Orforglipron, its anti-obeyity pill. Until now, studies have shown surformance of the injectable treatments of Eli Lilly in the face of those of Novo Nordisk.
But the future of the sector seems to be playing on oral forms, easier to produce, distribute and administer. Not to mention the aversions for the needles, which repel many potential patients.
On this ground, Novo Nordisk is one step ahead. The group submitted in March 2025 an authorization request for its anti-obsity pill, with an expected response by the end of the year. The first results are promising: in high doses, the oral version of Wegovy allows an average weight loss of 15%, without food constraint either, and with fewer treatment abandonment.
With Orforglipron, patients only lose an average of 12% of their weight after 72 weeks. The abandonment rate is higher than estimates: 24.4% in the strongest dose, and 15% for lower doses. The main side effect? Vomiting, which affects a quarter of patients, are the main cause of premature stops.
The complete results will be published next month. The group still plans to submit a request for approval to the FDA by the end of 2025.
