• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

2

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

2

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
HealthNovo Nordisk
Europe

Novo Nordisk isn’t alone: Sales of Ozempic rival Mounjaro explode as drugmaker Eli Lilly profits from Americans’ weight-loss craze

Prarthana Prakash
By
Prarthana Prakash
Prarthana Prakash
Europe Business News Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Prarthana Prakash
By
Prarthana Prakash
Prarthana Prakash
Europe Business News Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 3, 2023, 9:07 AM ET
picture of four wegovy injections lined up
Drugs helping weight-loss including Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro are driving blockbuster sales.Michael Siluk—UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

With growing prescriptions for weight-loss-aiding drugs, companies manufacturing them are making big money.    

Recommended Video

The frenzy for the drug has built up in recent months, with weight-loss-aiding drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro being touted as a “miracle.” The effect of that reflects in the money pharma giants behind these drugs have made, owing to soaring demand. 

Danish giant Novo’s sales in obesity and diabetes drugs jumped 36% to nearly $22 billion in the first nine months of 2023, the company reported Thursday. Just the sale of Wegovy had skyrocketed by eight times in the third quarter compared to the sale time a year earlier, giving the company a $900 million boost and reminding the world why weight-loss drugs are having their moment now. The company’s sales have grown exponentially, catapulting Novo to become Europe’s most valuable company in September. 

But Novo isn’t alone in reaping the benefits of the seemingly insatiable appetite for weight-loss drugs—Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly has made big gains from it, too. Its diabetes medication Mounjaro, which contains a drug (tirzepatide) that helps people with obesity shed body weight by curbing their appetite, has driven up Eli Lilly’s revenue. On Thursday, the pharma company reported $9.5 billion in sales for the third quarter, up 37% compared to the same time a year earlier, as well as a profit of 10 cents per share, beating analyst estimates.

Mounjaro alone crossed a billion in sales for the first time—much of it from America—and is expected to be approved by U.S. regulators as an obesity treatment by the end of this year, Reuters reported.

Novo and Lilly didn’t immediately return Fortune‘s request for comment.

Boom in sales, but not supply

The fact that these companies are in their boom era is no secret—Novo’s shares are up 47% since the start of the year, while Lilly shares have seen a 59% increase.

There’s another thing the two companies have in common: the demand for their drugs aiding weight loss are quickly outpacing supply. Novo and Lilly were faced with questions from analysts on how they are coping with this imbalance.

 In the past months, Novo has had to restrict the supply of Wegovy in the U.S. which could continue into 2024. And even in the U.K., where the company’s blockbuster drug debuted in September, supply remains constrained. On Thursday, the company said that the U.S. can expect wider supply next year, although shortages may be likely in the short- to medium-term. 

As for Lilly, it’s working on increasing the supply of Mounjaro after a period of limited availability that prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add it to its list of shortages. All doses of the drug are now listed as available, the company said, according to CNBC. The company is also hoping to double its production capacity for drugs including Mounjaro and Trulicity, which is also used to treat diabetes. 

“This is really all hands on deck,” Lilly CEO David Ricks said on the company’s earnings call Thursday. “We’re not at all happy with the capacity we’ve announced already.”  

The race is on for both drug-makers as they grapple with ever-increasing demand, competition from players working on GLP-1 drugs (as the class of obesity drugs are called) and the rise of counterfeit versions of their medications. Investors are also keen to see the companies expand their supply to allow new patients, as the weight-loss drug industry is estimated to grow to $100 billion by 2030, according to bank Goldman Sachs’s estimates. 

But for now, Novo and Lilly continue to bring in strong top-lines—and for as long as the weight-loss drug frenzy lasts, that might just continue.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Prarthana Prakash
By Prarthana PrakashEurope Business News Reporter
LinkedIn icon

Prarthana Prakash was a Europe business reporter at Fortune.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Health

How ‘Ozempic face’ is pushing Gen X, already the biggest Botox and filler consumers, to the facelift table a decade early
HealthGen X
How ‘Ozempic face’ is pushing Gen X, already the biggest Botox and filler consumers, to the facelift table a decade early
By Mia OsmonbekovJune 24, 2026
3 hours ago
The 4 Best Zinc Supplements of 2026: Expert Tested
HealthDietary Supplements
The 4 Best Zinc Supplements of 2026: Expert Tested
By Emily PharesJune 24, 2026
3 hours ago
Helix Plus Lead
Healthmattresses
The Best Early 4th of July Mattress Sales of 2026: Saatva, Helix, and More
By Christina SnyderJune 24, 2026
5 hours ago
mg
CommentaryHealth
The ‘tech neck’ time bomb: why 43 million young Americans could cripple U.S. health care within a generation
By Michael GerlingJune 24, 2026
12 hours ago
UPS workers process boxes in a sorting facility.
North AmericaUPS
UPS is shelling out nearly $50 million on temperature-controlled facilities to meet the booming demand for GLP-1 deliveries
By Sasha RogelbergJune 23, 2026
1 day ago
dr
HealthCancer
The U.S. cut cancer deaths by 34% since 1991—but not in 458 rural counties
By Arthur Cosby and The ConversationJune 23, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
Economy
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
17 hours ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
1 day ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
9 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
17 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
1 day ago