Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly has reported a doubling in global sales for its diabetes and weight loss injection Mounjaro, fuelled by surging market appetite.

The drugmaker highlighted that its obesity treatments, Mounjaro and Zepbound, are spearheading a broader surge in company revenues.

During the opening six months of the year, Mounjaro generated 18.6 billion dollars (£13.8 billion) – representing a 106 per cent rise on the equivalent timeframe in 2025.

Concurrently, Zepbound posted a 60 per cent annual increase, with sales reaching 9.1 billion dollars (£6.8 billion).

In the US, its primary market, expanding sales volumes propelled financial growth, easily offsetting the financial impact of reduced average product pricing.

Price declines were notably pronounced in China following Mounjaro's inclusion on the official reimbursement list.

Both injectable treatments rely on tirzepatide to enhance feelings of fullness and manage appetite. Additionally, Eli Lilly’s newly introduced oral weight loss medication, Foundayo, brought in 98 million dollars (£73 million) shortly after securing approval.

The company’s chief executive David Ricks told investors that it was “building for the future”.

He said: “With our next generation weight-loss medicine retatrutide and its complete clinical data package in hand, new manufacturing capacity coming online, and exciting new assets entering our pipeline through business development, Lilly’s future, after 150 years, has never been brighter.”

Eli Lilly upgraded its full-year sales outlook on the back of the stronger financial performance.

It is now expecting revenues to total between 85 and 87 billion dollars (£63 billion to £65 billion) up from a previously guided range of 82 to 85 billion dollars (£61 billion to £63 billion).