You Might Never Have to Take a Weekly GLP-1 Shot Again. Here’s What Lilly Just Did

Eli Lilly just announced a major deal with Swedish biotech Camurus to develop ultra long-acting versions of its injectable diabetes and obesity drugs, including their amylin candidate eloralintide as well as triple agonists like Retatrutide.

The technology at the heart of the deal is called FluidCrystal. It is designed to deliver a steady therapeutic level of medication over an extended period, not just for a week like current shots, but for weeks, even months, from a single injection. Think of it like the difference between a daily pill and a slow-release implant, only this is still delivered by a simple syringe or autoinjector pen.

The deal allows Lilly to develop up to four drugs using this technology, with options on combinations of GIP, GLP-1, glucagon, and even amylin receptor agonists. In plain language, this opens the door to long-acting versions of medications like Mounjaro, Zepbound, or the coming Retatrutide, as well as next-generation obesity drugs we have not even seen yet.

And the market potential is huge. Camurus will receive nearly $300 million upfront and in early milestone payments, with another $580 million possible based on sales.

Now, the million dollar question. When will this be ready? Deals like this are about pipeline planning, not next year’s product launches. It will take time. Still, the fact that Lilly is investing at this scale signals that it sees long-acting formulations as a major part of its future obesity and diabetes business.

Why does this matter?

For many patients, adherence is a real challenge. Life gets busy. You forget a shot. You travel. You get off track. Now imagine getting one shot that covers you for months. It could be a game changer for long-term treatment success.

It also raises the bar for convenience in this space. Oral GLP-1 drugs are coming, but what if instead of taking a pill every day, you could take a single shot every three or four months? That is the future Lilly is clearly betting on.

As always, I will be watching this one closely. The incretin race is not slowing down. In fact, it is accelerating.

Are you ready for a world where your GLP-1 shot is only once or twice a year? Let me know in the comments.

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