Eli Lilly's Weight-Loss Drug Boom Sends Profits Soaring

Drugmaker Eli Lilly just had a blockbuster quarter, powered by massive demand for its weight-loss and diabetes medicines. The company reported earnings that easily beat what Wall Street analysts (experts who predict company performance) expected.

Lilly's two star products are Zepbound (for weight loss) and Mounjaro (for diabetes). Both belong to a popular class of drugs called GLP-1s, which help people lose weight and manage blood sugar. Demand for these treatments keeps rising fast.

Here are the key numbers for the third quarter:

• Earnings per share (profit split across each share of stock): $7.48, beating the $6.26 expected
• Revenue (total money from sales): $24.40 billion, beating the $22.61 billion expected
• Mounjaro sales: $10.72 billion worldwide, up 65%
• Zepbound sales: $5.35 billion, up 49%
• Shares rose about 7% on the news

The company also raised its full-year sales outlook (its forecast for future income), now expecting 2026 revenue between $91 billion and $92 billion — up from an earlier estimate of $85 billion to $87 billion.

Lilly dominates this market, holding 63% of the U.S. obesity and diabetes drug market, ahead of its main rival Novo Nordisk. CEO Dave Ricks said only 3% to 10% of eligible patients currently get obesity treatment, meaning there is "dramatic" room for growth.

Not everything was perfect. Lilly's new weight-loss pill called Foundayo brought in $184 million, falling short of the $229 million analysts hoped for. Still, prescriptions for the pill doubled from the previous quarter.

One challenge: prices for these drugs dropped in the U.S. after a pricing deal with the Trump administration. But higher sales volume more than made up for lower prices.

In short: Eli Lilly's weight-loss drugs continue to drive huge profits, and the company sees plenty of room to grow even bigger.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/29/eli-lilly-lly-earnings-q3-2026.html