Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar said investors are underestimating the demand for differentiation among obesity drugs, and that new treatment options like pills will keep it from becoming a winner-take-all battle with rival Eli Lilly.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar defended the drugmaker's decision to sue rival Eli Lilly over its weight-loss drug advertising. "I am a big fan of competition.
I underestimated Eli Lilly and Company. LLY's Retatrutide showed promising efficacy in TRIUMPH-2/TRIUMPH-3 trials, and if approved by the FDA, I believe it could become the "gold standard" in the obesity market. Meanwhile, Jaypirca generated $192 million in sales for Eli Lilly in Q2, up 56.4% year-on-year, despite competitive pressure from AstraZeneca's Calquence and BeOne Medicines' Brukinsa.
Some Americans have turned to medical spas and pharmacies that sell peptides for health and wellness benefits for access to compounded versions of retatrutide.
Eli Lilly has filed six new lawsuits against U.S. entities that it alleges are selling a version of the company's investigational weight-loss drug on the black market.
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY | LLY Price Prediction) delivered a monster quarter with revenue growth, a fourth consecutive EPS beat, and a fresh guidance raise.
Eli Lilly and Company NYSE: LLY reported 48% revenue growth in the second quarter of 2026, driven primarily by continued demand for its cardiometabolic medicines MOUNJARO and ZEPBOUND, while raising its full-year revenue and earnings guidance.
Eli Lilly's latest results made investors happy, as the stock jumped 5% on their release, as both revenues and earnings grew by strong double-digit percentages. While the company's blockbuster diabetes treatment Mounjaro led revenue growth, Zepbound gives some reasons for concern, along with other treatments. Strong margins and upgraded revenue guidance still significantly add to the stock, even as the EPS outlook was trimmed a bit.
Lilly lifts its 2026 outlook as Foundayo adoption accelerates, Medicare expands obesity access and retatrutide advances toward a 2027 filing.
Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk beat second-quarter estimates and raised their full-year outlooks. But while investors cheered Lilly's results, they punished Novo a day earlier – underscoring a growing divide in Wall Street's confidence in the two obesity drug giants.
Eli Lilly remains a buy after Q2, with robust revenue growth and strong performance from Mounjaro and Zepbound. LLY raised 2026 revenue guidance to $85–87 billion, driven by volume gains despite price declines, and reinforced margin expansion. Retatrutide is a key medium-term catalyst, with a BLA submission planned for Q1 2027 and potential in new therapeutic areas.
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript