Truist reiterates buy rating on Eli Lilly stock amid diabetes drug safety

Published 23/06/2025, 15:12
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Investing.com - Truist Securities maintained its buy rating and $1,038.00 price target on Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), a prominent player in the pharmaceutical industry with a market capitalization of nearly $700 billion, following the company's presentation of its oral diabetes drug orforglipron (OFG) at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a "GREAT" financial health score, supported by robust revenue growth of 36% in the last twelve months.

The firm's analysis came after attending the orforglipron presentation, gathering feedback from key opinion leaders (KOLs) at the conference, and participating in Eli Lilly's investor event at the ADA meeting.

Truist addressed concerns regarding liver enzyme elevations that emerged following the orforglipron presentation, noting that while some KOLs expressed caution about these signals given the potential for broad chronic use of the drug if approved, the firm believes these concerns "are likely overblown."

The securities firm indicated that additional due diligence and clarity provided by Eli Lilly management during the investor event helped alleviate some of these safety concerns about the experimental oral medication.

Truist concluded that based on current data, orforglipron demonstrates a "favorable risk/benefit profile" for Type 2 diabetes treatment, with positive implications for its potential use in obesity, though the firm acknowledged that longer-term data will be needed to further strengthen the drug's safety profile. Analyst consensus remains bullish, with InvestingPro showing price targets ranging from $650 to $1,190. Get access to the complete Eli Lilly Pro Research Report, along with detailed analysis of 1,400+ other top stocks, exclusively on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Eli Lilly has been in the spotlight due to several significant developments. The company recently reported that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has started a re-examination of its Alzheimer's drug, Kisunla, following a prior recommendation against its approval in Europe. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly's acquisition of gene therapy company Verve for $1.3 billion has garnered attention, with UBS reiterating a Buy rating and Bernstein maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock, citing the strategic enhancement of Eli Lilly's gene-editing capabilities. This acquisition is seen as a move to bolster Eli Lilly's cardiometabolic offerings, with Verve's proprietary technology and promising candidates targeting atherosclerotic conditions.

Additionally, the American College of Cardiology has recommended wider use of weight-loss drugs, including Eli Lilly's Zepbound, as a primary option for obese patients to prevent heart disease. This shift could impact insurance coverage and patient adoption of these medications. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained an Overweight rating on Eli Lilly, with a price target of $975, reflecting confidence in the company's weight loss drug pipeline despite some caution around amylin-targeted treatments. These recent developments highlight Eli Lilly's active role in expanding its therapeutic offerings and addressing unmet medical needs.

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