Eli Lilly smashes Q1 forecasts as Mounjaro, Zepbound demand soars

(Sharecast News) - Eli Lilly & Co shares surged on Wall Street on Thursday after the pharma giant smashed market forecasts with its first-quarter results and upped its full-year guidance, helped by soaring demand for its weight-loss treatments. The Indiana-based firm, which does business as Lilly, reported a 56% jump in revenues from last year to $19.8bn as demand for Mounjaro and Zepbound soared, even though upside was limited by lower prices. The consensus estimate was just $17.82bn.

Mounjaro, the Type 2 diabetes treatment which is also approved for weight loss outside the US, generated sales of $8.66bn over the first quarter, up 125% year-on-year, with revenues outside the US surging to $4.4bn from $1.2bn. Zepbound sales were up 80% at $4.16bn.

First-quarter earnings per share surged 170% to $8.26, with adjusted EPS up 156% at $8.55, easily topping the $6.97 market forecast.

As a result of the strong performance, the company raised its full-year revenue guidance range to $82bn-85bn, $2bn higher than previous estimates.

Lilly chair and chief executive David Ricks said 2026 got "off to a strong start".

First-quarter highlights included the US FDA approval of Foundayo for adults with obesity, or those overweight with weight-related medical problems.

"A key milestone was the U.S. FDA approval of Foundayo-the only approved GLP-1 pill that can be taken any time of day, without food and water restrictions. Foundayo will meaningfully expand the number of people who can benefit from GLP-1s," Ricks said.

The stock was 8.3% higher at $921.61 by 1517 BST.