Eli Lilly's (NYSE: LLY) shares rose by 3.3% on heavy volume at the start of Tuesday's trading session. This increase was due to positive mid-stage data for its next-generation weight loss medication retatrutide. In a phase 2 trial, non-diabetic patients receiving the therapy had a mean weight reduction of 17.5% at 24 weeks and 24.2% at the end of the 48-week treatment duration. These results suggest that retatrutide has the potential to be a best-in-class obesity treatment.

Although Eli Lilly's shares started strong, they have since given back of all these early gains and then some due to concerns about the global economy. As of 10:56 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the drugmaker's stock was down by 0.1%. This trend reversal may be an opportunity for savvy investors, however. 

Lilly's mid-stage obesity candidate has the potential to disrupt the pharmaceutical market for obesity, which is expected to reach $44 billion in prescription drug sales by 2030 according to a Bloomberg Intelligence report. This presents a huge commercial opportunity for Lilly's next-generation weight loss drug.

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Source Fool.com