A New Push Toward Oral Weight-Loss Treatments
AI meets metabolic medicine
Nimbus Therapeutics announced a new research and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly to develop next-generation, AI-driven oral treatments for obesity and other metabolic diseases.
Under the deal:
- Nimbus will receive $55 million upfront and near-term milestone payments
- Up to $1.3 billion in additional development and commercial milestones
- Ongoing royalties on global sales if a drug reaches the market
The collaboration highlights how artificial intelligence is increasingly reshaping early-stage drug discovery, particularly in large, competitive therapeutic markets.
Why AI Is Becoming Central to Drug Discovery
Faster timelines, lower costs
Drugmakers are rapidly adopting AI tools to:
- Identify promising drug candidates more efficiently
- Improve safety screening earlier in development
- Reduce reliance on animal testing
This shift aligns with broader regulatory momentum, including initiatives by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to modernize preclinical testing frameworks.
Nimbus has already demonstrated its AI platform’s potential. In 2022, the company sold an AI-designed compound to Takeda in a deal valued at up to $6 billion. That psoriasis drug recently cleared late-stage clinical trials, with regulatory filings expected this year.
The High-Stakes Obesity Drug Race
Pills vs. injections
The partnership comes as pharmaceutical companies race to develop oral alternatives to injectable weight-loss drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
The obesity drug market is projected to exceed $150 billion in annual revenue by the early 2030s, making pill-based solutions especially attractive due to:
- Easier patient compliance
- Broader prescribing potential
- Lower long-term healthcare system burden
Nimbus will apply its AI-driven discovery platform, while Lilly brings deep expertise in metabolic disease development and commercialization.
An Expanding Relationship
Building on prior collaboration
This deal is not the first partnership between the two companies. Nimbus and Lilly previously entered a 2022 agreement focused on oral cardiometabolic therapies, signaling growing confidence in Nimbus’ technology.
Boston-based Nimbus Therapeutics specializes in pill-form medicines and maintains active programs across:
- Metabolic disorders
- Inflammatory diseases
- Oncology
WSA Take
The obesity drug market is evolving beyond injections, and this deal underscores how AI-driven discovery is becoming a strategic weapon in pharma. By pairing Nimbus’ AI platform with Lilly’s metabolic expertise, the two companies are positioning themselves for the next phase of weight-loss innovation — one where convenience, scale, and speed matter as much as efficacy.
Read our recent coverage on Nvidia Entering a More Challenging Phase in 2026.
Explore more market insights on the WallStreetAccess homepage.
Disclaimer
WallStAccess does not work with or receive compensation from any companies mentioned. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct independent research before investing.
