Eli Lilly Raises 2025 Outlook as Mounjaro and Zepbound Drive Record Sales

Rahaman Hadisur
25 minutes ago
2 min read

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

Eli Lilly surged ahead of Wall Street expectations for the second quarter of 2025, buoyed by soaring demand for its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The pharmaceutical giant also released promising data from a late stage trial of its experimental obesity pill, orforglipron, and issued a strong upward revision to its full year guidance.

The company now projects 2025 revenue between $60 billion and $62 billion, up from its prior range of $58 billion to $61 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are expected to hit between $21.75 and $23, up from earlier estimates of $20.78 to $22.28.

Second-quarter revenue reached $15.56 billion, a 38% year-over-year increase, topping analyst forecasts of $14.71 billion. Earnings per share came in at $6.31 adjusted, beating the $5.57 expected by analysts polled by LSEG.

Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug Mounjaro pulled in $5.2 billion, a 68% increase from the previous year, while Zepbound, its weight loss counterpart, generated $3.38 billion, up 172% from the same quarter in 2024. Both drugs, based on the active ingredient tirzepatide, exceeded sales expectations and continue to lead the global market in their categories. “Tirzepatide, which powers both Mounjaro and Zepbound, is on track to become the bestselling drug in the industry by its third year on the market,” said CEO David Ricks on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “We’re seeing strong growth, and our innovation pipeline remains robust.”

Eli Lilly also released long anticipated late stage trial results for orforglipron, its oral obesity treatment. The trial showed that the highest dose helped patients lose more than 12% of their body weight. While promising, the figure came in slightly below Wall Street’s loftier expectations, contributing to a 12% drop in shares during premarket trading.

Despite the stock reaction, analysts remain optimistic about the drug’s long-term potential, noting the growing demand for effective oral alternatives to injectable weight-loss medications.

U.S. revenue jumped 38% to $10.81 billion, driven by a 46% increase in prescription volume, primarily for Mounjaro and Zepbound. However, Eli Lilly noted that lower realized prices partially offset the volume growth.

Net income for the quarter totaled $5.66 billion, or $6.29 per share, up from $2.97 billion, or $3.28 per share, during the same period last year. Excluding one-time items, adjusted EPS stood at $6.31.

While Eli Lilly’s current performance is robust, the company is preparing for potential challenges ahead. President Donald Trump has revived his “most favored nation” pricing policy, which aims to align U.S. drug prices with lower rates abroad. He has also warned pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, to take action on pricing by September 29 or face possible penalties.

Additionally, Trump’s new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports could further complicate matters. Eli Lilly’s current guidance reflects existing tariffs as of August 7, but excludes any future levies yet to be implemented.

Despite market jitters over drug pricing policy and trial results, Eli Lilly remains a dominant force in the pharmaceutical industry, with its pipeline and performance exceeding most analyst expectations. “We’re excited about what’s ahead,” said Ricks. “We continue to innovate, deliver value for investors, and most importantly, improve the lives of patients around the world.”