The Ozempic myth: Why the most famous GLP-1 isn't the one most people are taking

Over 600,000 seniors enrolled in Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge program in two months, saving $216 million. Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) supply drugs at $245/month. Jefferies estimates $1.5B-$1.8B annualized revenue for the program. KFF estimates 3.8M eligible beneficiaries. Enrollment may reach 25% soon, but adherence is uncertain.

Upper Macungie Township approved Eli Lilly's final land development plan for a $3.5 billion pharmaceutical plant. The 797,432-square-foot facility will create 2,000 construction jobs and involve final assembly of injectable medicines. The project will be completed in phases, with the first phase including an amenities building and visitor center.

Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, became the world's best-selling drug, contributing 65% of Q2 revenue. Clinical trials showed tirzepatide combined with Taltz improved psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis symptoms, expanding potential uses beyond diabetes and obesity. Eli Lilly is testing tirzepatide in other conditions, aiming to secure broader insurance coverage and mitigate competition risks.

In August 2026, the FDA approved Oveporexton (Takeda) for narcolepsy, a first-in-class drug restoring orexin signaling. It also cleared Roche's Elecsys Phospho-Tau test (with Eli Lilly) for Alzheimer's assessment and C2N Diagnostics' PrecivityAD2 for younger adults. REGENXBIO's Hunter syndrome therapy was put on hold, while Cellenkos' ALS therapy received Fast Track designation. Lantheus' Tauklarify, a tau-targeted imaging agent, was approved for AD evaluation.

Eli Lilly's Mounjaro Q2 revenue surged 91% to $9.94 billion, with full-year guidance raised to $85B-$87B. The FDA expanded Mounjaro's label to include cardiovascular benefits, which may help defend diabetes reimbursement as employer coverage for GLP-1 drugs drops. Shares trade at $1,174.61, down 6.44% in the past week.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) launched its Wegovy weight-loss pill in Germany, the EU's largest pharmaceutical market. The oral version, priced similarly to the injectable, aims to capture market share ahead of competition from Eli Lilly. Novo estimates pills could account for over one-third of GLP-1 use by 2030, but faces challenges from pricing and competition.