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    Eli Lilly and Company

    Also known as Lilly, LLY, Eli Lilly

    Eli Lilly is an Indianapolis-based drugmaker whose tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) drives most of its growth. Its revenue rose 48% to $23.0 billion in the second quarter of 2026.[1][2] It also won FDA approval for the GLP-1 pill Foundayo in April 2026 and plans to file the triple agonist retatrutide in early 2027.[3][4]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated GLP-1 and metabolic medicineHealth and medicineLife sciences
    Key facts

    Eli Lilly is Novo Nordisk’s main rival in GLP-1 medicines. Driven by its incretin drugs, its revenue rose 56% in the first quarter of 2026 and 48% in the second.[5][2] It is based in Indianapolis and led by chair and CEO David A. Ricks.[1]

    Products

    tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, is sold as Mounjaro and as Zepbound for weight management.[6][7] In the second quarter of 2026, Mounjaro brought in $9.9 billion and Zepbound $4.9 billion.[2] In the head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 trial, tirzepatide produced more weight loss than semaglutide.[8]

    orforglipron, a small-molecule GLP-1 pill, was approved as Foundayo on 1 April 2026 under the FDA’s National Priority Voucher pilot.[3] It brought in $98 million in the second quarter of 2026. Lilly has also filed it for type 2 diabetes.[2][9] In the ACHIEVE-4 trial, published in The Lancet on 30 September 2026, it was non-inferior to insulin glargine for major cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes at high risk.[10]

    On 28 August 2026 Lilly announced FDA approval of Mounjaro to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk, based on SURPASS-CVOT.[11] On 24 September it announced FDA approval of Onswik (insulin efsitora alfa), a once-weekly basal insulin for type 2 diabetes, after approvals in the EU, Mexico and Japan.[12]

    Pipeline

    retatrutide, a GIP/GLP-1/glucagon triple agonist, produced an average 28.3% weight loss at the top dose in TRIUMPH-1, according to Lilly’s May 2026 topline (efficacy estimand).[13] The peer-reviewed NEJM paper in September reported -25.0% versus -3.9% on placebo by intention-to-treat. In TRIUMPH-2, in people with type 2 diabetes, the top dose produced -18.8% versus -5.1%.[14][15] Lilly says the data package is complete for obesity, sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis pain, and plans to file in the first quarter of 2027.[4] In August 2026 it filed six lawsuits against US sellers of unapproved, black-market retatrutide.[16]

    Lilly is also combining tirzepatide with eloralintide, an amylin agonist. It reported up to 23.3% weight loss versus 14.8% with tirzepatide 15 mg alone in a 48-week phase 2b trial in type 2 diabetes, with phase 3 due to start in Q4 2026.[17]

    Prices, coverage and capacity

    Lilly is a party to the November 2025 White House pricing agreement, which set Medicare’s price for Mounjaro and Zepbound at $245 a month.[18] Foundayo and Zepbound are covered under Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge.[19] In the second quarter of 2026, worldwide realised prices fell 13% while volume rose 60%.[20] Lilly raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $85.0–87.0 billion. It committed an additional $4.5 billion to expand Indiana manufacturing.[21][22] On 28 September 2026 it launched a commitment to treat as many people with its diabetes and obesity medicines in resource-limited settings, including low- and middle-income countries, as in high-income countries before 2040.[23]

    Competition

    Lilly’s main rival is novo-nordisk. Lilly’s tirzepatide was the comparator that Novo’s cagrisema failed to match at its top dose in REDEFINE 4, although Novo reported in September 2026 that low-dose CagriSema beat tirzepatide 5 mg in type 2 diabetes.[24][25] In oral drugs, Foundayo competes with Novo’s Wegovy pill. A 2026 indirect comparison favoured oral semaglutide on weight loss, but no head-to-head trial had reported.[26]

    Questions readers ask

    What are Lilly's main GLP-1 products?

    Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, and the oral GLP-1 orforglipron, sold as Foundayo. Retatrutide is still investigational.[2][3][27]

    Are Lilly's prices falling?

    Lilly reported a 13% decrease in worldwide realised prices in the second quarter of 2026, outweighed by a 60% increase in volume. US price declines were driven mainly by Zepbound and Mounjaro.[20]

    When might retatrutide reach the market?

    Lilly plans to submit retatrutide to the FDA in the first quarter of 2027. An approval decision would follow FDA review.[4]

    What did Lilly announce in autumn 2026?

    FDA approval of Mounjaro to cut cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes (August), approval of the once-weekly insulin Onswik (September), peer-reviewed retatrutide phase 3 results, ACHIEVE-4 heart-safety data for Foundayo, and a pledge on access in low- and middle-income countries.[11][12][14][10][23]

    Sources

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Status shows how well established it is.

    1. [1]

      Eli Lilly and Company is headquartered in Indianapolis and is led by chair and CEO David A. Ricks. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    2. [2]

      Lilly's second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 48% to $23.0 billion, including $9.9 billion from Mounjaro, $4.9 billion from Zepbound and $98 million from Foundayo. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    3. [3]

      On 1 April 2026 the FDA approved Lilly's orforglipron, branded Foundayo, for adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related conditions, under the National Priority Voucher pilot about 50 days after filing. confirmedas of 2026-04-01

    4. [4]

      As of August 2026, Lilly said three additional phase 3 retatrutide obesity trials were positive, that the data package was complete for obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis pain, and that it plans to submit a Biologics License Application to the FDA in the first quarter of 2027. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    5. [5]

      Lilly's first-quarter 2026 revenue rose 56% to $19.8 billion, primarily on volume growth. confirmedas of 2026-04-30

    6. [6]

      Tirzepatide is a single molecule that activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    7. [7]

      On 8 November 2023 the FDA approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition. confirmedas of 2023-11-08

    8. [8]

      In the open-label SURMOUNT-5 trial, people with obesity but without diabetes lost a mean 20.2% of body weight on tirzepatide versus 13.7% on semaglutide at 72 weeks. confirmedas of 2025-05-11

    9. [9]

      In the second quarter of 2026 Lilly submitted orforglipron to the FDA for type 2 diabetes. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    10. [10]

      In the open-label ACHIEVE-4 trial of 2,749 adults with type 2 diabetes at increased cardiovascular risk (The Lancet, 30 September 2026), oral orforglipron was non-inferior to insulin glargine for major adverse cardiovascular events (4.2% vs 5.0%; hazard ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.20) over a median 2 years. confirmedas of 2026-09-30

    11. [11]

      Lilly announced on 28 August 2026 that the FDA approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk of them, based on SURPASS-CVOT. confirmedas of 2026-08-28

    12. [12]

      Lilly announced on 24 September 2026 FDA approval of Onswik (insulin efsitora alfa), a once-weekly basal insulin for adults with type 2 diabetes, following approvals in the EU, Mexico and Japan. confirmedas of 2026-09-24

    13. [13]

      Lilly reported on 21 May 2026 that in the phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes, retatrutide 12 mg produced an average 28.3% weight loss at 80 weeks. confirmedas of 2026-05-21

    14. [14]

      The peer-reviewed TRIUMPH-1 report (NEJM, 29 September 2026) gave mean weight changes at 80 weeks of -17.6%, -23.7% and -25.0% with retatrutide 4, 9 and 12 mg versus -3.9% with placebo under the treatment-regimen (intention-to-treat) estimand; Lilly's May topline figures of 19.0%, 25.9% and 28.3% used the efficacy estimand. confirmedas of 2026-09-29

    15. [15]

      In the phase 3 TRIUMPH-2 trial of 1,152 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes (The Lancet, September 2026), mean weight change at 80 weeks was -11.9%, -16.8% and -18.8% with retatrutide 4, 9 and 12 mg versus -5.1% with placebo; gastrointestinal events were the most common adverse events. confirmedas of 2026-09-29

    16. [16]

      In August 2026 Lilly said no retatrutide medicine had been approved anywhere, filed six lawsuits against US sellers of black-market retatrutide and said it had reported more than 14,000 websites, ads and listings marketing it illegally. confirmedas of 2026-08-12

    17. [17]

      Lilly reported on 30 September 2026 that in a 48-week phase 2b trial in 367 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, its eloralintide (amylin agonist) plus tirzepatide combination produced up to 23.3% weight loss versus 14.8% with tirzepatide 15 mg alone, and that phase 3 trials would start in Q4 2026. reportedas of 2026-09-30

    18. [18]

      Under a 6 November 2025 agreement announced by the White House with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, Medicare prices for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound were set at $245 a month with a $50 monthly copay for beneficiaries, and Ozempic and Wegovy at $350 through the TrumpRx website. confirmedas of 2025-11-06

    19. [19]

      Novo Nordisk reported that the Bridge programme began on 1 July 2026 and covers a majority of Medicare beneficiaries, and Lilly reported Foundayo and Zepbound coverage under it. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    20. [20]

      Lilly reported that in the second quarter of 2026 its worldwide revenue rose on a 60% volume increase partly offset by a 13% decrease in realised prices, with US price declines driven mainly by Zepbound and Mounjaro. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    21. [21]

      In August 2026 Lilly raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $85.0 billion to $87.0 billion. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    22. [22]

      In the second quarter of 2026 Lilly committed an additional $4.5 billion to expand its Indiana manufacturing sites. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    23. [23]

      On 28 September 2026 Lilly launched a commitment aiming to treat as many people with its diabetes and obesity medicines in resource-limited settings, including low- and middle-income countries, as in high-income countries before 2040. confirmedas of 2026-09-28

    24. [24]

      On 23 February 2026 Novo Nordisk reported that CagriSema failed to show non-inferiority to tirzepatide 15 mg in the open-label REDEFINE 4 trial, with weight loss of 20.2% versus 23.6% at 84 weeks under the treatment-regimen estimand. confirmedas of 2026-02-23

    25. [25]

      Novo Nordisk reported topline results on 21 September 2026 in which CagriSema 1.0 mg/1.0 mg produced 12.4% weight loss versus 9.1% with tirzepatide 5 mg in type 2 diabetes (REIMAGINE 5), and 21.0% versus 2.0% with placebo in obesity (REDEFINE 9). reportedas of 2026-09-21

    26. [26]

      A 2026 indirect (not head-to-head) comparison using OASIS 4 and ATTAIN-1 data estimated about 3 percentage points more weight loss and fewer adverse-event discontinuations with oral semaglutide 25 mg than with orforglipron 36 mg. confirmedas of 2026-06-01

    27. [27]

      Retatrutide is an investigational agonist of three receptors, GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    Revision history (2)
    1. Page created.
    2. Refresh: added August-October 2026 developments (Mounjaro cardiovascular label, Onswik approval, retatrutide NEJM and Lancet papers, ACHIEVE-4, EloraTZP, black-market retatrutide lawsuits, LMIC access commitment).

    Created Oct 10, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 10, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 10, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Eli Lilly and Company." ContentLora, updated Oct 10, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/eli-lilly

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    Tirzepatide DevelopedOrforglipron DevelopedRetatrutide DevelopingNovo Nordisk Main competitor
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