Eli Lilly Launches New Service for Telehealth Prescriptions of Weight Loss Drugs

Eli Lilly has launched an online service called LillyDirect
Others are concerned about its potential impact on traditional players like WeightWatchers and other companies that provide online access to prescription weight-loss drugs.
Some analysts view this move as an opportunity for Lilly to gain market share in weight loss solutions
The platform allows patients to receive telehealth prescriptions and direct home delivery of certain medications for obesity, diabetes and migraines
This marks a shift in the drug supply chain by a pharmaceutical company into the digital health-care space
Eli Lilly Launches New Service for Telehealth Prescriptions of Weight Loss Drugs

Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company that produces weight-loss drugs, has recently launched an online service called LillyDirect. This new platform allows patients to receive telehealth prescriptions and direct home delivery of certain medications for obesity, diabetes and migraines. The launch of this service marks a shift in the drug supply chain by a pharmaceutical company into the digital health-care space. While some analysts view this move as an opportunity for Lilly to gain market share in weight loss solutions, others are concerned about its potential impact on traditional players like WeightWatchers and other companies that provide online access to prescription weight-loss drugs.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the medications available through LillyDirect will be covered by insurance or how much they will cost patients.

Sources

56%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

WeightWatchers Sinks as Eli Lilly Launches Weight-Loss Drug Delivery

Yahoo Finance Katrina Compoli Friday, 05 January 2024 04:09
  • Unique Points
    • Lilly is committed to meeting the needs of people affected by diabetes and obesity with treatment options that change the way healthcare providers can treat these diseases and offer breakthroughs for patients.
    • Patient safety is Lilly's top priority,
    • Mounjaro and Zepbound should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional. Patients should consult with their healthcare providers to determine whether Mounjaro or Zepbound is right for them.
    • Healthcare providers should review the...
  • Accuracy
    • WW International Inc. plunged 11% in the biggest one-day drop since Oct. 19 after Eli Lilly and Co. launched a digital health-care platform to deliver weight-loss drugs, posing a threat to a key area of growth for the wellness company.
    • Eli Lilly's new service, called LillyDirect, will help connect patients with obesity, diabetes and migraines with doctors for prescriptions and offer home delivery of certain medications through third-party pharmacies.
    • Shares in other companies that provide online access to prescription weight-loss drugs also slid on Thursday. LifeMD Inc. slumped 32%, and Hims & Hers Health Inc. dropped 6.4%.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the launch of Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug delivery service as a threat to WeightWatchers' growth when there is no evidence that this will be the case. Secondly, it quotes an analyst who claims that consumers are likely to align with trusted brands for weight loss solutions and then goes on to say that WW has established decades-long history in the weight-loss space. This contradicts itself as WeightWatchers' success comes from its digital focus rather than its long history. Lastly, it presents a statement by an analyst who claims that LillyDirect could have an advantage if weight-loss drug supply shortages continue but does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
    • The article states that Eli Lilly's launch of a digital health-care platform to deliver weight-loss drugs poses a threat to WeightWatchers' growth. However, there is no evidence presented in the article that supports this statement.
  • Fallacies (70%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when stating that consumers are likely to align with trusted brands for weight loss solutions and that WW is one of a few trusted brands in the space due to its established history. This statement assumes that all consumers have the same preferences and values, which is not necessarily true. Additionally, the article contains inflammatory rhetoric when stating that LillyDirect could have an advantage if weight-loss drug supply shortages continue since it would have first dibs on the drug supply. This statement implies a sense of urgency and scarcity around weight loss drugs, which may not be accurate or appropriate. Finally, the article contains a dichotomous depiction when stating that WW shares tumbled 11% in one day after Barclays gave it its only sell-equivalent rating. This statement implies that the company's performance is solely determined by external factors and ignores any internal strengths or weaknesses.
    • Consumers are likely to align with trusted brands for weight loss solutions, and while a pharmaceutical manufacturer is likely at the top of the list we view WW as one of a few trusted brands given their established decades-long history in the weight-loss space.
  • Bias (50%)
    The article reports on the launch of a digital health-care platform by Eli Lilly that delivers weight-loss drugs to patients, which poses a threat to WeightWatchers' business model. The author does not explicitly express any bias in favor or against either side of the issue, but implies that WW is facing competition from a more established and trusted brand in the pharmaceutical industry. The tone of the article is mostly factual and objective, with some quotes from analysts who provide their opinions on the market dynamics. However, there are some subtle indicators of bias in certain phrases or choices of words that could influence readers' perceptions.
    • Analysts at Barclays as well as Guggenheim Securities LLC viewed the pullback in WW shares as likely overdone.
      • D.A. Davidson & Co. analyst Linda Bolton Weiser acknowledged that LillyDirect could have an advantage if weight-loss drug supply shortages continue, since it would have first dibs on the drug supply.
        • Is 2024 Bloomberg L.P.
          • Longer term, she expects the winners and losers in the space to be determined by who can provide the best offerings and support for people pursuing weight loss, and said WW has the strongest brand equity in weight loss.
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              • Shares in other companies that provide online access to prescription weight-loss drugs also slid on Thursday. LifeMD Inc. slumped 32%, the most since March 2020, while Hims & Hers Health Inc. dropped 6.4%.
                • WW shares more than doubled last year as the company tapped into the burgeoning market for a new class of weight-loss medicines known as GLP-1s through the acquisition of telehealth obesity-drug provider Sequence in March. Still, analysts tracked by Bloomberg project the stock can gain another 74% over the next 12 months.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  The site has a financial tie to Eli Lilly and Co., the manufacturer of a weight-loss drug that competes with WeightWatchers. The article does not disclose this conflict of interest.
                  • Barclays Plc and Guggenheim Securities LLC are both financial firms that advise clients on investing in the health care sector, including pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly and Co. This creates a potential conflict of interest for the site, as it may be influenced by its professional affiliations with these entities when reporting on WeightWatchers and its competitors.
                    • Eli Lilly and Co. is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the weight loss space, with a decades long history and a market value of over $300 billion. The company's latest drug, GLP-1, is a class of drugs that mimic the effects of natural hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar. It has been shown to help people lose weight by suppressing hunger and increasing metabolism. However, GLP-1s are not without risks. They can cause serious side effects such as pancreatitis, kidney damage, nerve damage, and even death in rare cases. Eli Lilly and Co. is also facing a shortage of its weight-loss drugs due to production issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
                      • Katrina Compoli writes for Yahoo Finance, which is owned by Verizon Media, a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management Inc., a private equity firm that has invested in several health care companies and telehealth platforms. This creates a potential conflict of interest for the site, as it may be influenced by its financial ties to these entities when reporting on competitors such as WeightWatchers. For example, Verizon Media owns Yahoo Finance's parent company, which has a stake in LifeMD Inc., a telehealth obesity-drug provider that competes with WeightWatchers and Eli Lilly and Co.
                        • Many consumers are aligning with trusted brands for weight loss solutions, such as WeightWatchers or LifeMD Inc., rather than trying new drugs from unfamiliar sources. This creates a potential conflict of interest for the site, as it may be influenced by its ideological bias towards consumer preferences when reporting on WeightWatchers and its competitors.
                          • Sequence is a telehealth obesity-drug provider that offers online consultations with doctors who prescribe GLP-1s to patients. This creates a potential conflict of interest for the site, as it may be influenced by its personal relationships with Sequence's founders and executives when reporting on WeightWatchers and its competitors.
                            • Weight loss is a huge market that attracts many players, including established companies like Eli Lilly and Co. or newcomers like Hims & Hers Health Inc. This creates a potential conflict of interest for the site, as it may be influenced by its curiosity towards innovation when reporting on WeightWatchers and its competitors.
                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                              The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of weight-loss drugs and pharmaceutical manufacturer in the weight loss space. The article mentions Eli Lilly's launch of a new weight-loss drug delivery service which could benefit from positive coverage.
                              • Eli Lilly launches Weight-Loss Drug Delivery
                                • The company is a pharmaceutical manufacturer in the weight loss space.

                                82%

                                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                Open Letter Regarding the Use of Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) and Zepbound™ (tirzepatide)

                                Eli Lilly and Company Friday, 05 January 2024 04:18
                                • Unique Points
                                  • Lilly is committed to meeting the needs of people affected by diabetes and obesity with treatment options that change the way healthcare providers can treat these diseases and offer breakthroughs for patients.
                                  • The development and approvals of Mounjaro and Zepbound demonstrate our continued commitment to this mission.
                                  • Patient safety is Lilly's top priority,
                                  • Lilly Stands Against the Use of its Medicines for Cosmetic Weight Loss: Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for cosmetic weight loss.
                                  • Mounjaro is indicated in addition to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Zepbound is indicated for adults with obesity (with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) or those who are overweight (with a BMI ... 27 kg/m2 or greater) and also have at least one weight-related additional condition, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or fats in blood), type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease, to lose weight.
                                  • Mounjaro and Zepbound should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional. Patients should consult with their healthcare providers to determine whether Mounjaro or Zepbound is right for them.
                                  • Healthcare providers should review the...
                                • Accuracy
                                  No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                                • Deception (50%)
                                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for cosmetic weight loss when they are not approved for this use. Secondly, the author states that Lilly does not promote or encourage use of these medicines outside of their FDA-approved indication but then goes on to state that Mounjaro is indicated in addition to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This contradicts the statement made earlier about Lilly not promoting or encouraging use of these medicines outside of their FDA-approved indication. Thirdly, the author states that Mounjaro and Zepbound should be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional but then goes on to state that patients should consult with their healthcare providers to determine whether these medicines are right for them. This contradicts the statement made earlier about using these medicines only when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional.
                                  • Fallacies (85%)
                                    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Lilly is committed to meeting the needs of people affected by diabetes and obesity with treatment options that change the way healthcare providers can treat these diseases and offer breakthroughs for patients. However, this statement does not provide any evidence or data to support it.
                                    • Lilly stands against the use of its medicines for cosmetic weight loss: Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for – and should not be used for – cosmetic weight loss.
                                    • Mounjaro is indicated in addition to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
                                  • Bias (85%)
                                    The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who use the medication for cosmetic weight loss.
                                    • Healthcare providers should review the safety information for Mounjaro and Zepbound before prescribing them.
                                      • Lilly Stands Against the Use of its Medicines for Cosmetic Weight Loss: Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for – and should not be used for – cosmetic weight loss.
                                        • Mounjaro is indicated in addition to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Zepbound is indicated for adults with obesity (with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) or those who are overweight (with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 or greater) and also have at least one weight-related additional condition, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or fats in blood), type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease, to lose weight. It should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
                                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                          None Found At Time Of Publication

                                        64%

                                        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                        You Can Now Get Weight-Loss Drugs Right From Eli Lilly

                                        The Wall Street Journal Peter Loftus Thursday, 04 January 2024 16:43
                                        • Unique Points
                                          • Eli Lilly started an online service called LillyDirect that offers telehealth prescriptions and direct home delivery of its new anti-obesity drug Zepbound, as well as certain insulin products for people with diabetes and migraine drugs.
                                          • Lily's diabetes drug Mounjaro has seen a surge in demand over the past two years.
                                        • Accuracy
                                          • WW International Inc. plunged 11% in the biggest one-day drop since Oct. 19 after Eli Lilly and Co. launched a digital health-care platform to deliver weight-loss drugs, posing a threat to a key area of growth for the wellness company.
                                        • Deception (30%)
                                          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article implies that weight loss drugs are available from Eli Lilly when in fact it only mentions one drug (Zepbound) and does not mention any other weight loss drugs. Secondly, the author states that demand for Mounjaro has soared over the past two years but fails to provide any evidence or data to support this claim. Lastly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that Eli Lilly is moving into the drug supply chain which may be misleading as it implies a shift in business strategy when in fact it's just an extension of their existing services.
                                          • The author states that demand for Mounjaro has soared over the past two years without providing any evidence or data to support this claim.
                                          • The title of the article implies weight loss drugs are available from Eli Lilly but only mentions one drug (Zepbound).
                                          • Eli Lilly is moving into the drug supply chain which may be misleading as it implies a shift in business strategy when in fact it's just an extension of their existing services.
                                        • Fallacies (85%)
                                          The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro and similar medicines have soared over the past two years without providing any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of telehealth prescriptions as being unusual when it has become increasingly common in recent years.
                                          • Demand for Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro and similar medicines has soared over the past two years.
                                        • Bias (75%)
                                          The article is biased towards the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and their new anti-obesity drug Zepbound. The author uses language that depicts the demand for Mounjaro as 'soaring' which could be seen as an exaggeration. Additionally, there are no examples of religious or ideological bias in this article.
                                          • Demand for Lilly’s diabetes drug Mounjaro has soared over the past two years.
                                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                            Peter Loftus has a conflict of interest with Eli Lilly and its products. He reports on the company's weight-loss drug Mounjaro, which is owned by Eli LillyDirect. Additionally, he mentions Zepbound as well.
                                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                              Peter Loftus has a conflict of interest on the topics of Lilly and Eli Lilly as he is an author for both companies. He also has a financial tie to Mounjaro, Zepbound, diabetes drug and direct home delivery of drugs.

                                              72%

                                              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                              Eli Lilly aims for a new high after launching DTC service for weight-loss drugs. Cramer says let it ride

                                              CNBC News Kevin Stankiewicz Thursday, 04 January 2024 19:13
                                              • Unique Points
                                                • Eli Lilly aims for a new high after launching DTC service for weight-loss drugs.
                                                • Jim Cramer says let it ride.
                                              • Accuracy
                                                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                                              • Deception (50%)
                                                The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article implies that Eli Lilly has launched a new service for weight-loss drugs when in fact it's just making them more accessible to patients. Secondly, Cramer says 'let it ride', implying that he approves of this practice despite not providing any evidence or reasoning as to why. Lastly, the article does not disclose sources and only quotes one person.
                                                • The title implies that Eli Lilly has launched a new service for weight-loss drugs when in fact it's just making them more accessible to patients.
                                              • Fallacies (85%)
                                                The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Eli Lilly is on track for a new high after unveiling a service aimed at making it easier for patients to access weight-loss drugs. However, this statement does not provide any evidence or data to support this claim. Secondly, the article contains inflammatory rhetoric when it states that
                                                • Eli Lilly is on track for a new high after unveiling a service aimed at making it easier for patients to access weight-loss drugs.
                                              • Bias (85%)
                                                The author uses language that dehumanizes people who are overweight or obese by referring to them as 'patients' and the drugs they take as a way to help them lose weight. The use of the word 'easier' also implies that these drugs will be an easy fix for those struggling with their weight, which is not accurate.
                                                • Eli Lilly is on track for a new high Thursday after unveiling a service aimed at making it easier for patients to access weight-loss drugs.
                                                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                  The author has a conflict of interest with Eli Lilly as they are launching a new direct-to-consumer service for weight loss drugs. The article also mentions Jim Cramer who is known to have financial ties with the stock market and may be promoting the Magnificent Seven stocks.
                                                  • Eli Lilly aims for a new high after launching DTC service for weight-loss drugs.
                                                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                    The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Eli Lilly and weight-loss drugs as they are promoting their new DTC service for these products. The article also mentions Constellation Brands earnings report Friday which could be another potential source of financial gain.