Big Pharma Hits a Trillion-Dollar Jackpot

Eli Lilly, a big name in the drug world, just hit a huge milestone. It became the first healthcare company to reach a market value of $1 trillion. That's a lot of money! The company's stock hit this mark briefly during trading but then settled a bit lower, with each share going for around $1, 048. So, what's driving this massive growth? Two drugs are the stars here: Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. These drugs have been super successful. In the third quarter alone, Mounjaro brought in $6. 52 billion, which is more than double what it made last year. Zepbound isn't far behind, with $3. 59 billion in sales, up a whopping 184% from last year. Eli Lilly isn't the only player in this game. Novo Nordisk, known for Ozempic and Wegovy, is also making waves in the weight-loss drug market. Even Pfizer is jumping in after buying Metsera, a company that makes obesity drugs. But Eli Lilly has been around for a while. It was founded way back in 1876 and has a rich history in medicine. They introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923 and have since released other big-name drugs like Prozac and a polio vaccine. The company's recent success started in May 2022 when it got approval for tirzepatide, now sold as Mounjaro. Later, in late 2023, the same drug was approved for obesity under the name Zepbound. By 2024, Mounjaro had generated $11. 54 billion in sales, and Zepbound brought in $4. 93 billion. Eli Lilly isn't stopping there. They plan to release an oral version of their weight loss drug next year, which could make treatment more convenient for patients. Analysts predict the global weight loss drug market could be worth over $150 billion by the early 2030s.