Eli Lilly and Co

Boehringer Ingelheim received FDA breakthrough therapy designation for survodutide, a dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist, for treating non-cirrhotic MASH and moderate or advanced fibrosis. The company initiated two Phase III trials, LIVERAGE and LIVERAGE-Cirrhosis, evaluating survodutide in MASH patients with moderate or advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. The MASH market is projected to reach $25.7bn by 2032, with Eli Lilly's tirzepatide as a key competitor.

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Digital health investors David Buller and Laurent van Lerberghe launch KELES, a €250m venture capital firm focusing on European growth-stage digital health companies. KELES aims to bridge the gap between startup innovation and global impact, with investment tickets ranging from €8M-€30M. The firm, with bases in Paris, London, Brussels, and Luxembourg, is on track for its first close in Q1 2025, targeting high-potential scale-ups addressing healthcare challenges.

ADDF leads roundtable on combination therapy for Alzheimer’s at 2024 CTAD conference, highlighting the need for precision medicine and novel therapeutic targets beyond amyloid and tau.

Eli Lilly poised to become world's first $1 trillion drugmaker due to Wall Street's interest in weight-loss drugs, despite past challenges when patents for blockbuster psychiatric drugs expired.

The FDA approved Cobenfy, a new schizophrenia treatment working via acetylcholine receptors, differing from traditional dopamine-modifying antipsychotics. Initial trials show symptom reduction, but long-term efficacy and side effects remain uncertain. Cobenfy aims to avoid common antipsychotic side effects like weight gain and movement disorders but may cause digestive issues and urinary retention. The drug's high cost and need for extended trials pose challenges.

The HSE's Model of Care for Dementia in Ireland aims to ensure equitable access to services, addressing variability in timely diagnosis and care. Published in May 2023, it includes 37 targets and practice recommendations for assessment, treatment, and support. Despite funding consistency, the HSE recruitment moratorium has delayed planned developments. A dementia registry is essential for service planning, with €200,000 allocated in Budget 2025. The model outlines three levels of assessment, with minimum staffing requirements and maximum waiting times. The roll-out coincides with significant scientific activity on modifiable risk factors and disease-modifying treatments for early Alzheimer’s disease, influencing future updates to the model.

The drug and biotech industry thrives on M&A, new drug launches, and pipeline successes, with obesity drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly leading. Large drugmakers like Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Bayer are profitable and innovative, focusing on areas like weight loss, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s. Despite headwinds such as pipeline setbacks and macroeconomic uncertainty, investment in drug/biotech stocks has surged. The Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry ranks in the top 19% of Zacks industries, outperforming the Zacks Medical Sector but slightly underperforming the S&P 500.

AstraZeneca entered an exclusive licensing deal with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to develop a preclinical lipid-lowering drug candidate, YS2302018, aiming to treat dyslipidemia and related cardiometabolic diseases. The deal includes $100 million upfront and up to $1.92 billion in milestones, with CSPC eligible for royalties. YS2302018 is an oral small molecule disruptor of Lp(a), a type of LDL cholesterol linked to higher heart attack and stroke risks. AstraZeneca joins Eli Lilly and others in the Lp(a) drug development arena.