What Happened?
Shares of global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) jumped 3.8% in the afternoon session after a major competitor, Novo Nordisk, announced that its experimental obesity drug failed to show it was as effective as Lilly's tirzepatide in a head-to-head clinical trial.
The late-stage study showed that Novo Nordisk’s drug, CagriSema, achieved a 23% reduction in body weight over 84 weeks, which underperformed the 25.5% weight loss seen with tirzepatide. The results reinforced investor confidence in Eli Lilly's competitive edge in the rapidly growing weight-loss market. Adding to the positive sentiment, the company's weight-loss drug, Zepbound, also received FDA approval for a new multi-dose KwikPen. This new option provided a full month's worth of four weekly injections in a single device, which enhanced convenience for patients.
The shares closed the day at $1,058, up 4.8% from previous close.
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What Is The Market Telling Us
Eli Lilly’s shares are somewhat volatile and have had 11 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The previous big move we wrote about was 18 days ago when the stock dropped 7.4% on the news that the company discontinued three clinical pipeline assets, including a gene therapy for dementia acquired through a billion-dollar deal. The scrapped asset, LY3884963, aimed to treat frontotemporal dementia and was part of the $1.04 billion acquisition of Prevail Therapeutics. A spokesperson for Lilly confirmed the move was “due to a lack of compelling efficacy,” not safety concerns. The company also stopped development of a CD19 antibody, LY3541860, and a radioligand therapy, 225Ac-PSMA-62.
Eli Lilly is down 2% since the beginning of the year, but at $1,058 per share, it is still trading close to its 52-week high of $1,110 from November 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Eli Lilly’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $5,227.
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