The shares of Eli Lilly (LLY) rose on Wednesday after the Food and Drug Administration approved its long-awaited weight-loss medication, now known as Zepbound.
Notably, Lilly intends to offer Zepbound for $1,056 each month, according to Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger in a research. That is roughly in line with the cost of Lilly’s type 2 diabetic therapy, Mounjaro. Both medications include the active component tirzepatide.
The cost is 20% less than Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) competitor weight-loss medicine, Wegovy.
“Lilly investor relations told us that the company’s Zepbound list price logic is driven by access… to facilitate employer opt-in to obesity medical riders in insurance plans,” according to a report released by the company.
Eli Lilly shares rose 3.2% today to settle at 619.13 on the stock exchange. Novo shares advanced a little, closing the regular session at 101.76.
Eli Lilly Stock: Hormone Mimicking
Zepbound mimics two gut hormones to increase satiety and blood sugar indicators, as well as to reduce the rate at which the stomach empties itself. The license allows Lilly to compete with Novo, which sells market leader Wegovy. Wegovy, on the other hand, exclusively mimics one gut hormone, GLP-1.
Patients who took a high dose of Zepbound for 72 weeks dropped an average of 48 pounds in testing.
“Obesity is a chronic disease that can lead to serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes,” said Joe Nadglowski, CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition. “Despite our knowledge of obesity as a manageable, chronic disease, people living with obesity still face numerous obstacles in their health and weight management journey.”
Diabetes and Weight Loss Are Priorities
Lilly is seeking to gain control of the diabetic and weight-loss pharmaceutical markets. In addition to the type 2 diabetes medicine Mounjaro and the weight loss drug Zepbound, the business is developing a treatment that targets three hormones to assist weight reduction.
Similarly, Novo sells three versions of semaglutide. Wegovy is a weight-loss medication, and Ozempic and Rybelsus are type 2 diabetic medications.