Nektar Therapeutics drops as jury deliberates in Eli Lilly dispute over Rezpeg

Hundreds of lawsuits allege that GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, may increase the risk of NAION, a rare form of vision loss. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly dispute these claims, citing research showing no increased risk. Studies have shown a modest increase in NAION risk with semaglutide, but the FDA has not issued a safety warning.

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) received full FDA approval for Inluriyo, in combination with Verzenio, for treating ESR1-mutated breast cancer. Approval was based on the Phase 3 EMBER-3 trial, which showed doubled median progression-free survival. TD Securities projects Inluriyo sales of $290M in 2026, rising to $1.05B by 2032. LLY shares were up 0.32% at $1,168.60 at the time of publication.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly face lawsuits over alleged vision loss linked to their weight loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. Over 90 cases have been filed in New Jersey, with additional lawsuits in federal court. Both companies deny the claims, citing lack of evidence. Studies show mixed results on the drugs' connection to NAION. The EMA has added warnings in Europe, while the FDA is investigating.

TD Cowen maintained an Outperform rating on Eli Lilly (LLY) with a $1250 price target, suggesting a 7.3% upside from the Sep 21 close. The firm cited strong growth prospects in emerging markets, a robust product pipeline, and resilient R&D efforts as key reasons for the rating.

Eli Lilly began construction on a $6.5B facility in Houston to produce its newly approved GLP-1 pill, Foundayo, and other medicines. The project, part of a $50B U.S. manufacturing push, will create 600 jobs and receive $15M in workforce training investments. Governor Abbott called it the largest active pharmaceutical ingredient project in Texas history.

The weight-loss drug market is growing rapidly, with analysts projecting $100B in annual sales in the next decade. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly lead the sector, but other companies like Pfizer, Viking Therapeutics, and AstraZeneca are developing new treatments. Key drugs include Novo's amycretin and CagriSema, Pfizer's PF-3944, and Lilly's retatrutide, with varying degrees of success in clinical trials.