Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks revealed that one-third of new patients prescribed GLP-1 pills are using the company’s oral obesity drug, Foundayo. Since its U.S. launch in April, Foundayo’s market share in the oral GLP-1 segment has steadily increased, with Lilly gaining ground against key competitor Novo Nordisk. Ricks expressed confidence in the company’s long-term position, especially with plans to expand Foundayo’s availability in international markets soon.

To support growing demand, Lilly broke ground on a $6.5 billion manufacturing facility at Generation Park in Houston, Texas, which is expected to be operational by 2030. This plant will manufacture Foundayo’s active ingredients as well as other small-molecule drugs across a range of therapeutic areas including cardiometabolic health, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. The new site is part of Lilly’s broader strategy to reshore manufacturing and enhance production capabilities within the United States.

Ricks also highlighted that, following Medicare’s obesity drug coverage expansion in July, roughly 700,000 seniors have started GLP-1 treatments, with 70% of those patients opting for Lilly’s medications. This uptake coincides with Lilly's report of $98 million in sales for Foundayo during its first full quarter on the market. The company aims to leverage this momentum alongside its blockbuster weight loss drug, Zepbound.

Lilly’s ramp-up in manufacturing and robust investment in production capacity distinguish it from Novo Nordisk, whose shares recently declined amid concerns over competition. Since 2020, Lilly has committed over $50 billion to expand its manufacturing network, including an additional $27 billion announced earlier this year to build four new U.S. facilities. These moves position Lilly to meet surging demand for obesity and diabetes treatments while preparing for future product launches.