Eli Lilly Rises Over 3% Pre-Market as China Approval of First Oral GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drug Pushes LLY Toward Record High
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Eli Lilly shares rose over 3% in premarket trading toward an all-time high following China's approval of its oral GLP-1 weight-loss drug, Muyouda. As the first oral weight-management drug approved in China, Muyouda offers patient-friendly advantages including no refrigeration and flexible dosing, lowering barriers compared to injectables. This milestone provides Eli Lilly a first-mover advantage over competitors like Novo Nordisk in China's evolving weight-loss market, positioning the company to expand its therapy reach despite upcoming competition from both oral and injectable alternatives.
TradingKey - Eli Lilly (LLY) rose more than 3% in US premarket trading on Thursday, with shares climbing to around $1,488. If this rally holds into the regular session, the stock is poised to set an all-time high. The key driver boosting market sentiment is that Eli Lilly's oral GLP-1 weight-loss drug, orforglipron calcium tablets, officially received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration under the brand name "Muyouda".
Source: TradingView
The approval makes Muyouda the first oral GLP-1 drug approved for weight management in China, signaling that the domestic weight-loss treatment market is transitioning from being dominated by injectables to a new phase of side-by-side competition between oral and injectable products. The drug is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise for long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight adults with related health conditions.
Compared with weekly injectable GLP-1 products, the oral formulation lowers the barrier to use for some patients and is particularly expected to appeal to those resistant to injections. In addition, Muyouda offers the flexibility of being taken with or without food, requires no refrigeration, and has a small-molecule structure that makes scaled manufacturing easier—features that could help Eli Lilly expand the reach of its weight-loss therapies.
Muyouda was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2026 under the overseas brand name Foundayo. Entering the Chinese market, the product will compete with Eli Lilly's own once-weekly weight-loss injectables, as well as similar products from companies such as Novo Nordisk (NVO), Pfizer (PFE), and Innovent Biologics.
Novo Nordisk has also submitted a marketing application in China for an oral version of Wegovy, so Eli Lilly's first-mover approval provides it with a time advantage in securing prescription patients and distribution channels.
This content was translated using AI and reviewed for clarity. It is for informational purposes only.
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