From pills to new uses, here’s what eli lilly’s top scientist sees as the future of weight loss loas drugs

Dan skovronsky knows what makes a good obesity drug.

As Chief Scientific Officer at Eli lillyHe’s already done it once with the company’s Weekly Shot, ZepboundHe’s trying to do it again with a more convenent daily pill, then reepeat the feat with a shot And that’s not counting the other nine obesity drugs lilly’s testing in clinical trials.

Skovronsky said the race to create the next great drug is not just about weight loss anymore, somenting more investors and analysts are starting to say.

Take Amgen‘s experimental drug maritide: People Lost up to 20% of their body weight in a phase two study and amgen shares fell about 5% on the day the days the results were released in November. Why? Investors Worned that it wouldn’T be enough to compe with lilly’s zepbound and novo Nordisk’s wegovy, both of which will have a Yearslong Head Start.

Skovornsky Sees Improving Ease of Use and Making More Potent Drugs as Two Paths to Move the field forward. He Envisions Pills Like Lilly’s orforglipron Reaching People Around the World. He sees drugs that can deliver more weight loss – Possibly Including Lilly’s Own Retatrutide – as another area with potential.

But he’s most excited to see how many other health conditions that Incretin – Or Gut Hormone – Medicines Can Treat. Lilly’s zepbound recently was Approved to Treat Sleep ApneaThe company’s also exploring where it can treatAddiction, heart disease, inflammation and gastrointestinal conditions.

You can watch to the full interview for more from skovronsky on lilly’s work in obesity and where he sees the market going.