A new study suggests staying on low starter doses of GLP-1 obesity therapies yields weight loss with notably less nausea than higher doses. This could influence prescribing patterns, patient adherence, and payer acceptance, potentially expanding the addressable market for Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound while moderating peak revenue if dose-limited pricing persists.
Eli Lilly and Merida Biosciences announced a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Merida for up to $2.875 billion in cash, with closing expected in Q4 2026. MER511 data in Phase 1 showed robust reductions in pathogenic thyroid-stimulating antibodies and a favorable safety profile, supporting a precision antibody-degradation approach. The deal expands Lilly's immunology pipeline and could unlock broader applications across autoimmune and allergic diseases, potentially boosting long-term growth.
Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro received FDA approval to lower major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk. The SURPASS-CVOT trial, the largest head-to-head cardio-outcomes study to date, showed Mounjaro was non-inferior to Trulicity with an 8% relative reduction in MACE and a first-MACE hazard ratio of 0.92. This label expansion could boost demand and sales growth for Lilly’s leading diabetes franchise.
The FDA cleared Roche and Eli Lilly's blood test to identify signs of Alzheimer's in adults aged 55 and older with cognitive decline. The milestone could accelerate commercialization and expand Lilly's diagnostics footprint, contingent on uptake and reimbursement pathways; success will depend on payer coverage and clinician adoption.
Lilly said Foundayo is now available in the UK, the first European market to offer the oral GLP-1 therapy for weight management and type 2 diabetes. The milestone suggests possible EU expansion and could underpin future revenue growth if uptake proves strong, especially as competition intensifies in obesity and diabetes care.
The legal fight centers on Lilly's advertising claims comparing Zepbound to Wegovy amid Novo's new high-dose Wegovy. Novo contends ads omit newer dosing profiles; Lilly asserts ads are truthful. With Wegovy HD approvals and strong pill uptake, GLP-1 competition remains fierce, and Lilly has seen positive near-term stock movement while Novo has weakened since the suit.