Dave Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, on GLP-1s and the business of pharma
Cheeky Pint
2025/11/11
Dave Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, on GLP-1s and the business of pharma
Dave Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, on GLP-1s and the business of pharma

Cheeky Pint
2025/11/11
Unprocessed episode, you can be the first!
Shownote
Shownote
Dave Ricks, the CEO of Eli Lilly, the world's most valuable pharmaceutical
company, sits down with John and Patrick to discuss the complex business of drug
development. Dave explains the true origin story of GLP-1s (from Gila monster
saliva), why their potential goes far beyond weight loss to addiction and
inflammation, and how "self-pay" has become the #1 way new patients get
Zepbound. They cover the "shadow generic" industry undermining patents, the
challenges associated with clinical trial enrollment, and what drove insulin
list prices to $275 (while the net price was $40). This is a rare, candid look
into the strategies, science, and future of pharma from one of the industry's
most influential leaders.
Timestamps
(00:00) Introducing Dave Ricks
(05:07) Making R&D decisions
(10:10) Clinical trials
(24:59) Drug pricing
(32:43) Stimulating more R&D
(54:15) Pros and cons of US healthcare
(58:20) New pharma business models
(01:05:53) Stripe and enterprises
(01:07:00) China
(01:16:31) Generics
(01:22:37) GLP-1s
(1:37:43) r/Peptides
(01:41:25) LillyDirect
(01:46:35) Why do investors love LLY?
Highlights
Highlights
Chapters
Chapters
Transcript
Transcript
