Eli Lilly (LLY) Reports Strong Q4 Earnings and Key Regulatory Milestones as 2025 Outlook Remains Bright

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has announced robust fourth-quarter 2024 financial results, highlighting a 45% surge in revenue driven by its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Alongside strong earnings, Lilly detailed its 2025 financial guidance, strategic investments, and major regulatory approvals that position the company for continued growth.

Eli Lilly’s Blockbuster Drugs Drive Record Growth

Eli Lilly’s revenue soared to $13.5 billion, fueled by strong demand for:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide) – $3.53 billion in Q4 sales.
• Zepbound (tirzepatide) – $1.91 billion in sales, now FDA-approved for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Despite minor wholesale distribution constraints, these drugs remain central to Lilly’s market dominance in diabetes and obesity treatments.

Key FDA Approvals and Clinical Breakthroughs

Lilly achieved several major regulatory milestones, expanding its portfolio across multiple therapeutic areas:
✅ FDA approval of Zepbound as the first prescription drug for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.
✅ FDA approval of Omvoh for Crohn’s disease, with European approval pending.
✅ Kisunla’s approval in China for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease.
✅ SURMOUNT-5 trial results: Zepbound showed 47% greater weight loss compared to Wegovy (semaglutide) in a head-to-head trial.
✅ Breakthroughs in oncology, including positive Phase 3 results for pirtobrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (EMBER-3 study).

Expanding Global Manufacturing & Strategic Acquisitions

To meet soaring demand, Eli Lilly announced a $3 billion investment in a new manufacturing facility in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, enhancing its global injectable drug production. Additionally, Lilly:
🔹 Acquired Scorpion Therapeutics’ mutant-selective PI3Kα inhibitor program, expanding its oncology pipeline.
🔹 Invested in innovative cardiovascular treatments, with positive Phase 2 results for muvalaplin, an oral inhibitor for lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a key genetic risk factor for heart disease.

Eli Lilly’s Strong 2025 Outlook and Shareholder Returns

Looking ahead, Eli Lilly expects 2025 revenue between $58 billion and $61 billion, with EPS guidance of $22.05 to $23.55, aligning with analyst expectations.

To further enhance shareholder value, the company:
🔸 Announced a $15 billion share repurchase program.
🔸 Increased its quarterly dividend by 15% for the seventh consecutive year.

With strong financial momentum, blockbuster drug sales, and a rapidly expanding R&D pipeline, Eli Lilly remains a dominant force in the pharmaceutical industry.