Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks Reportedly Says Company Eyeing Pain Relief Market With Weight Loss Drug Retatrutide

• Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks' comments come after the company reported third-quarter earnings results that topped estimates and hiked its full-year guidance.
• Ricks stated “triple-acting” Retatrutide promises to have an even bigger impact on weight loss than Zepbound and Mounjaro.
• In addition to its injectable therapies, the launch of Orforglipron, a daily oral pill for weight loss, is also in the pipeline.

Eli Lilly (LLY) is reportedly looking to expand into pain relief by leveraging the momentum of its weight loss treatments, Mounjaro and Zepbound, which have captured significant share in the fast-growing obesity market.

CEO Dave Ricks told CNBC on Thursday that the company sees potential to move beyond traditional weight management into therapies that address pain associated with obesity. According to the company’s third-quarter earnings report, trials are underway targeting knee and back pain, with a focus on patients who are overweight or have obesity.

“We hope to prove that patients who are overweight or have obesity with chronic knee pain find relief with Retatrutide in addition to losing weight.” 

– Dave Ricks, CEO, Eli Lilly

Ricks stated “triple acting” Retatrutide promises to have an even bigger impact on weight loss than Zepbound and Mounjaro.  “The first study that we’ll read out for that triple-acting agent will actually be in knee pain,” he said, adding that weight loss drugs have both direct and indirect anti-inflammatory effects.

Eli Lilly Hikes Full-Year Guidance

Ricks’ comments follow the company's upbeat third-quarter (Q3) results and increased full-year guidance, issued earlier on Thursday. The pharmaceutical giant now expects its fiscal 2025 revenue to be between $63 billion and $63.5 billion, up from its previous guidance of $60 billion to $62 billion.

LLY’s stock gained 3.7% in morning trade, with retail sentiment around the pharma giant on Stocktwits improving to ‘bullish’ from ‘bearish’ territory over the past day. Retail chatter increased to ‘high’ from ‘low’ levels.

Lilly reported a strong international uptake for its products, rolling out Mounjaro earlier this year in markets including India, China, and Brazil. “We’re seeing global demand for this product,” the CEO said, adding that both Mounjaro and Zepbound have performed well in their early years, signaling the potential for sustained growth in the future.

Oral Pill Expansion

In addition to its injectable therapies, Lilly is preparing to launch Orforglipron, a daily oral pill, which Ricks said has completed Phase 3 trials, with submission expected in Q4. The CEO highlighted that oral therapy meets patient demand for a less intrusive option than weekly injections. 

He said it also addresses practical barriers in middle-income countries where refrigeration and cold-chain requirements limit access to injectable products. “We think that’s a great spot for Orforglipron,” the CEO noted, adding that the company expects strong global performance for Orforglipron.

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