Eli Lilly Shares Surge Over 2% on Launch of LillyDirect Weight-Loss Drug Delivery Service

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Medical Stock Market】The dynamics of the weight-loss drug market continue to attract attention. In order to better meet the needs of weight-loss patients, Eli Lilly announced on Thursday the launch of a new service called LillyDirect, along with a dedicated website. The website will connect patients with independent telehealth providers and also offer pharmacy services through third-party suppliers, completing what the company calls an "end-to-end" service for these patients.
 

In December 2023, Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drug Zepbound was officially launched for long-term weight management in obese or overweight adults with at least one weight-related condition (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes). This means that Eli Lilly's product will enter into full competition with Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
 

With the rapid development of biotechnology, the demand for weight-loss drugs is strong, and the market scale is growing. J.P. Morgan Research forecasts that by 2030, the GLP-1 weight-loss drug market will exceed $100 billion, with equal growth driven by usage in diabetes and obesity. By 2030, the total number of GLP-1 users in the U.S. could reach 30 million, accounting for approximately 9% of the total population.
 

The GLP-1 market is currently dominated by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. In 2023, shortages occurred for several of their products, including Eli Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro, and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic. Even today, Novo Nordisk is still working to resolve the supply issues for Wegovy and Ozempic.
 

Undoubtedly, this new service launched by Eli Lilly at the beginning of the year will make it more convenient for patients to obtain medication. They can get prescriptions through telehealth providers and choose to have Eli Lilly's weight loss drugs delivered directly to their homes, meeting their medication needs. This may also help enhance Eli Lilly's competitiveness in the weight loss drug market.
 

Besides serving obese patients, LillyDirect also serves diabetic and migraine patients. On the website established by Eli Lilly and Company, drugs such as Emgality for migraine treatment, insulin, and similar products can be found.
 

Affected by this news, Eli Lilly's stock price once rose over 2% during trading, hitting a new all-time high.
 

Currently, in addition to the attention on Eli Lilly's weight loss drug pipeline, significant progress has also been made in its clinical pipeline. For instance, in the second quarter of 2023, Eli Lilly resubmitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for Donanemab, its new Alzheimer's disease drug, and plans to file for the drug’s approval in other global markets sequentially.
 

Alzheimer's disease, commonly known as "senile dementia," is a neurodegenerative disease with a hidden onset and progressive development. Clinically, it is characterized by comprehensive dementia symptoms such as memory impairment, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, damage to visuospatial skills, executive dysfunction, as well as changes in personality and behavior. The cause remains unknown to date, and there is currently no cure. Patients have significant unmet treatment needs.
 

Donanemab (Dunelmab), a drug developed by Eli Lilly and Company with a similar effect, has shown in its Phase III clinical trial that it can significantly slow down the decline in cognition and function in patients with early Alzheimer's disease (AD).
 

Eisai Co., Ltd. announced on December 13, 2023, that it will begin selling the Alzheimer's drug Leqembi in Japan starting December 20. Eisai and its partner Biogen will co-promote the drug in Japan.
 

Eli Lilly's updated 2023 earnings guidance shows that it has increased its guidance by $22 billion, with expected annual revenue to reach $33.4～33.9 billion.
 

Disclaimer: In any case, the information or opinions expressed in this article do not constitute investment advice to any person.