Eli Lilly highlighted 2025 as the rollout year for obesity drugs, with Mounjaro (tirzepatide) at the forefront of its weight-loss portfolio, and it is going head-to-head with Trulicity (dulaglutide). Eli Lilly’s patient access program, LillyDirect, served over one million patients a month in 2025, allowing patients to access certified obesity experts via telehealth, with online pharmacy service options available, knowing exact prices before payment. With supply issues resolved, the company has established new commercial and governmental pathways to ensure weight-loss and obesity novel therapies are more accessible to patients, ultimately improving patient outcomes. At the 44th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, Eli Lilly highlighted its viewpoint for expanding access within the obesity market at the conference in San Francisco, California, on 13 January 2026.
Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, branded as Mounjaro and Zepbound, was initially indicated for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, respectively. GlobalData’s Sales and Forecast Database forecasts that tirzepatide generate over $64bn by 2031. Furthermore, the SURPASS-CVOT clinical trial sponsored by Eli Lilly was launched in 2020 and compared Mounjaro against its GLP-1 agonist Trulicity (dulaglutide), marketed in 2014. This study focused on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with T2D. Based on the results reported, GlobalData concluded that Mounjaro achieved the primary objective by demonstrating non-inferior rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-3), including cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke against Trulicity, showing effective safety and tolerability profiles in patients with T2D and increased cardiovascular risk.
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Eli Lilly has further expanded its weight-loss initiatives with novel therapies such as orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist. GlobalData forecasts the therapy to generate over $13bn by 2031 and is currently in the pre-registration phase in the US for T2D and obesity. The company anticipates a rapid review and is expecting FDA approval in Q2 2026, ahead of the agreement with the US Government to expand access to its obesity medicines and reduce drug costs. Orforglipron is a once-daily orally administered tablet, compared to tirzepatide, which requires a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, and demonstrates a predictable efficacy and safety profile according to the company. The usage of an oral GLP-1 therapy allows an increased level of patient contribution, providing a variety of advantages compared to alternative means of administration. For example, individuals who may struggle with subcutaneous injections have an oral treatment option. The company also stated that an oral GLP-1 receptor will aid in middle-income countries, allowing effective distribution to occur in comparison with injectable forms of treatment.
Additionally, Eli Lilly has also conducted negotiations with the US Government, initiating an obesity deal with Medicaid, which aims to increase coverage to the population compared to the commercial market. The inclusion criteria were negotiated with the US Government, using science-based reviewed studies as well as non-indicated and indicated evidence. Furthermore, the criteria considered individuals with a prior history of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and prediabetic symptoms. Eli Lilly aims to provide a $50 monthly cost for GLP-1 therapies, looking to increase coverage to all 50 states. Furthermore, this market expands into the international landscape, with the UK already having a high self-pay demand, with markets such as China, India, and Brazil in view. Furthermore, Medicaid coverage can influence volume uptake, particularly if oral therapies reduce the total cost of care by improving adherence and lowering downstream complications. Broader Medicaid reimbursement for obesity treatments would represent a structural demand tailwind for Lilly’s incretin portfolio, including options like orforglipron. This strengthens Eli Lilly’s ability to scale incretin therapies beyond commercial populations, supporting growth in 2026.
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