Lilly's Obesity Pill Sees Almost 4,000 Prescriptions in Second Week

• Foundayo had 1,390 prescriptions in its first week and 3,707 in its second week, compared to Novo's oral Wegovy which had 3,071 first-week prescriptions and 18,410 in its second week
• Analysts at RBC Capital Markets said the uptake is 'likely to be received negatively,' while J.P. Morgan noted the slower ramp is unsurprising given Wegovy's time-to-market and brand recognition advantages
• Lilly cautioned that early weekly figures may not capture the full breadth of pharmacy partners and should be 'best interpreted over time rather than as a complete count'

Summary: Eli Lilly's Foundayo Obesity Pill Sees Slower-Than-Expected Early Uptake

Eli Lilly's newly launched oral weight loss drug Foundayo recorded 3,707 prescriptions in its second week on the U.S. market, up from 1,390 in its first week, according to IQVIA data cited by analysts on April 24.

Key Performance Metrics:

The prescription uptake is trailing competitor Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy, which saw 18,410 prescriptions in its second week versus 3,071 in week one. Wegovy has been available since January, giving it a first-mover advantage in the oral obesity medication market.

Analyst Reactions:

RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh noted Foundayo's uptake "is likely to be received negatively," though cautioned that early-launch comparisons should be considered immaterial. J.P. Morgan analyst Chris Schott characterized the slower ramp as unsurprising given Wegovy's head start and stronger brand recognition.

Launch Timeline:

Foundayo received FDA approval on April 1, with prescriptions available immediately through LillyDirect. Shipping began April 6, and broad retail pharmacy and telehealth availability started April 9.

Market Context:

Investors are closely monitoring this rollout as a critical test of whether Lilly can effectively compete with Novo Nordisk in the rapidly growing obesity drug market. Lilly previously cautioned that early weekly prescription data may not capture the complete picture across all pharmacy partners and should be interpreted over time rather than as definitive counts.

The competitive dynamics between these two pharmaceutical giants in the lucrative obesity treatment sector remain a key focus for market participants.