Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks disclosed to CNBC that approximately one-third of patients newly adopting GLP-1 pills are selecting Foundayo, the company’s oral medication for weight management. Ricks noted that Lilly’s share of the oral GLP-1 market continues to expand on a weekly basis, and he expressed confidence in the company’s long-term competitive positioning in this segment. The executive indicated that international expansion plans for Foundayo are set to proceed in coming months.
Ricks made these statements during a groundbreaking ceremony for a major manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. Eli Lilly announced it would develop a $6.5 billion production plant at Generation Park, with operations expected to commence by 2030. The announcement came nearly one year after the company initially disclosed plans for the site. Beyond producing Foundayo, which launched in the U.S. market in April, the facility will manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients for Lilly’s other small-molecule drugs across multiple therapeutic areas including cardiometabolic conditions, cancer, immunology, and neurological disorders.
The manufacturing investment reflects Lilly’s broader strategy to build production capacity as a competitive differentiator against rival Novo Nordisk. Since 2020, Lilly has committed more than $50 billion toward expanding its manufacturing infrastructure globally. In February 2025, the company pledged an additional $27 billion to construct four new facilities, including the Houston plant.
Lilly’s market position has strengthened significantly. In August, the company reported holding approximately 61% of the overall GLP-1 market during the second quarter. Foundayo generated $98 million in sales during its first three-month period on the market in the second quarter. Demand is anticipated to accelerate following Medicare’s coverage of obesity drugs beginning in July, which is expected to increase patient access to both Foundayo and Lilly’s injected weight loss therapy Zepbound.
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