Eli Lilly broadens collaborations on obesity treatments with Camurus and CVS Caremark

The Swedish biotech Camurus and U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly have deepened a partnership that gives Lilly worldwide exclusive rights to Camurus' FluidCrystal technology for the current obesity drug Zepbound and the next‑generation candidate Retatrutid. Camurus will receive an initial payment of about SEK 46.5 million and may earn milestone payments up to SEK 2.7 billion, with potential sales‑related payments of up to SEK 5.4 billion and mid‑single‑digit royalties. Camurus CEO Fredrik Tiberg said, “Lilly’s decision to exercise the option validates our technology and broadens our partnership.”

In the United States, Lilly also reached a reimbursement agreement with pharmacy‑benefit manager CVS Caremark, adding its GLP‑1 medicines Foundayo and Zepbound to the CVS formulary. The deal opens coverage for up to 90 million U.S. patients, marking a major step in market penetration for the obesity drugs. The announcement helped Lilly’s share price reach a record high, while rival Novo Nordisk’s Danish‑listed shares fell.