Eli Lilly Streamlines Pipeline, Removing Alzheimer’s and Obesity Candidates in Q4 2024

Eli Lilly has removed clinical-phase Alzheimer's and obesity candidates from its pipeline as part of its Q4 2024 update2.

Ceperognastat, an oral O-GlcNAcase anti-tau agent for Alzheimer's disease, was axed after failing to slow clinical decline in early symptomatic patients in a phase 2 trial2.

The removal of ceperognastat comes months after the trial's failure, despite initial promising biomarker data suggesting potential impacts on tau pathology, brain volume, and neuro-inflammation2.

This decision marks another setback in Lilly's work on tau-targeted therapies, following the removal of zagotenemab from its pipeline in 20212.

Despite these pipeline cuts, Lilly reported strong financial performance in Q4 2024, with worldwide revenue increasing 45% to $13.53 billion, driven primarily by volume growth from Mounjaro and Zepbound56.

Lilly's 2025 revenue guidance anticipates sales between $58.0 billion and $61.0 billion, reflecting continued growth expectations45.

The company continues to make progress in other areas, including recent FDA approvals for Zepbound in obstructive sleep apnea and Omvoh for Crohn's disease56.

Sources:

2. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/eli-lilly-lops-alzheimers-and-obesity-assets-pipeline-q4-update

4. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-provides-update-on-2024-revenue-guidance-announces-2025-revenue-guidance-302349776.html

5. https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/lilly-reports-full-q4-2024-financial-results-and-provides-2025-guidance

6. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-reports-full-q4-2024-financial-results-and-provides-2025-guidance-302369432.html