Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) delivered a historic performance for the first quarter of 2026, as the unprecedented global demand for its weight-loss and diabetes treatments propelled the firm into a new era of growth.
Total revenue reached $19.8 billion, a staggering 56% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025.
The growth was primarily volume-driven, which more than offset the lower realized prices for its blockbuster injectables, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
The company’s bottom line reflected the massive scale of its current expansion.
Reported earnings per share (EPS) surged 170% to $8.26, while non-GAAP EPS rose 156% to $8.55.
These results were achieved despite $0.52 per share in charges related to acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D), as the company continues to aggressively shop for early-stage biotechnology assets.
The quarter’s defining milestone was the U.S. FDA approval of Foundayo (orforglipron), the company’s highly anticipated once-daily oral treatment for obesity.
As the first non-injectable option in Lilly’s weight-loss arsenal, Foundayo is expected to significantly broaden the market by appealing to patients who prefer pills over needles.
Furthermore, the pipeline saw positive Phase 3 readouts for retatrutide in type 2 diabetes and a unique combination study of Taltz and Zepbound for patients with both psoriasis and obesity.
Buoyed by the momentum of its new medicines, Lilly raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $82 billion to $85 billion.
The company also increased its non-GAAP EPS outlook to between $35.50 and $37.