Eli Lilly Stocks Up with $1.5B Orforglipron Pre-Launch Inventory Ahead of April FDA Vote

Eli Lilly reported $1.5 billion in pre-launch inventory for orforglipron, its experimental oral weight-loss drug, as of its latest filing, ahead of a potential FDA decision in April 2026. The buildup follows a nearly $550 million inventory in 2025 and reflects the company’s intent to launch the drug in multiple countries simultaneously if approved. Novo Nordisk’s once-daily weight-loss pill began selling over 26,000 prescriptions in its second full week in the U.S., per IQVIA data shared by an analyst. Orforglipron received a fast-track review voucher that could reduce the review timeline to 1–2 months from the typical 10–12 months for most new medicines. Such pre-launch assets are recorded on balance sheets to indicate the amount of drug product manufactured before approval.