Lilly leads GLP-1 weight-loss market while Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy exceeds expectations but falls short of forecasts

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are intensifying their battle for dominance in the multibillion‑dollar GLP‑1 weight‑loss market, with each company promoting its own set of injectable therapies and pipeline candidates.

Lilly reported second‑quarter revenue of about $23 billion, a 48% year‑over‑year rise, driven largely by its tirzepatide drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. The company’s newer weight‑loss pill, Foundayo, generated $98 million in the quarter, but growth has been slower than analysts expected.

Novo Nordisk’s earnings were mixed. Its flagship obesity drug Wegovy posted $354 million in first‑quarter sales, nearly double analyst forecasts, yet the figure still missed the company’s own targets.

Industry analysts suggest that beyond clinical efficacy, drug pricing, insurance coverage and physician prescribing habits will play a decisive role in determining which GLP‑1 product captures the larger share of the market.