Eli Lilly hikes guidance as obesity drug sales soar

Eli Lilly significantly raised its full-year revenue forecast by $3bn on Thursday, after reporting a strong second quarter driven by the robust performance of its blockbuster weight loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro.

  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • 08 August 2024 14:56:44
Eli Lilly and Company

Source: Sharecast

The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant reported a 36% increase in revenue for the quarter, with Mounjaro generating $3.09bn and Zepbound $1.24bn, surpassing analysts' expectations by over $750m.

Both Mounjaro and Zepbound are brand names for its tirzepatide injectable, which is approved for both diabetes and obesity treatment in the US and the UK.

Lilly said it had improved its supply chain, allowing for better stocking at wholesalers, which accounted for a significant portion of the quarter's sales.

In response to the strong performance, Lilly raised its 2024 profit forecast, with adjusted earnings per share now expected to be between $16.10 and $16.60, up from a previous estimate of $13.50 to $14.

The company also increased its overall revenue guidance to a range of $45.4bn to $46.6bn.

Lilly's market position was further bolstered by recent approvals and progress in its drug pipeline, including US approval of Kisunla for Alzheimer's disease and Jaypirca in Japan for mantle cell lymphoma.

The firm also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand manufacturing capacity, with a $5.3bn investment in Indiana and a new plant in North Carolina expected to start operations later in the year.

“Mounjaro, Zepbound and Verzenio led our strong financial performance in the second quarter as we advanced our manufacturing expansion agenda, and it is equally exciting to see the growth around the world of our medicines for cancer, neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases,” said chair and chief executive officer David Ricks.

“We also recently received approval of Kisunla to help people with Alzheimer's disease, a moment that was decades in the making.

“Lilly's performance and progress in Alzheimer's, metabolic disorders and many other serious diseases highlight the tenacity, focus and capability of our scientists, clinicians, engineers, customer teams and collaborators.”

At 0952 EDT (1452 BST), shares in Eli Lilly and Company were up 9.25% in New York at $843.53.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Sell:
5,916.67
Buy:
6,008.20
Change: -13.03 ( -0.22 %)
Date:
Prices delayed by at least 15 minutes

Compare our accounts

If you're looking to grow your money over the longer term (5+ years), we have a range of investment choices to help.

Lloyds Bank is not responsible for the content and accuracy of the Markets News articles. We may not share the views of the author. Understand the risks, please remember the value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invest. We don't provide advice so if you are in any doubt about buying and selling shares or making your own investment decisions we recommend you seek advice from a suitably qualified Financial Advisor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Important legal information

Lloyds and Lloyds Bank are trading names of Halifax Share Dealing Limited. The Lloyds Bank Direct Investments Service is operated by Halifax Share Dealing Limited. Registered Office: Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2RG. Registered in England and Wales no. 3195646. Halifax Share Dealing Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, 12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN under registration number 183332. A Member of the London Stock Exchange and an HM Revenue & Customs Approved ISA Manager.

Logo Allfunds

The information contained within this website is provided by Allfunds Digital, S.L.U. acting through its business division Digital Look Ltd unless otherwise stated. The information is not intended to be advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any of the shares, companies or investment vehicles mentioned, nor is it information meant to be a research recommendation. This is a solution powered by Allfunds Digital, S.L.U. acting through its business division Digital Look Ltd incorporating their prices, data news, charts, fundamentals and investor tools on this site. Terms and conditions apply. Prices and trades are provided by Allfunds Digital, S.L.U. acting through its business division Digital Look Ltd and are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

FE fundinfo Logo

Data provided by FE fundinfo. Care has been taken to ensure that the information is correct, but FE fundinfo neither warrants, represents nor guarantees the contents of information, nor does it accept any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or any inconsistencies herein. Past performance does not predict future performance, it should not be the main or sole reason for making an investment decision. The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise.

Refinitiv Logo

© 2025 Refinitiv, an LSEG business. All rights reserved.