Beijing courts Eli Lilly as weight-loss drug race drives $3bn China commitment

try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Gold slumps to worst week in over forty years as Iran war dents rate cut bets Nasdaq slides 2%, S&P posts four-week losing streak as Iran conflict escalates Goldman Sachs flags these stocks as beneficiaries of gas price surge Citi says Brent crude prices could rise to this level in a prolonged Iran conflict 🧠 Upgrade to AI Insights (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) 🧠 Upgrade to AI Insights Beijing courts Eli Lilly as weight-loss drug race drives $3bn China commitment By Author Simon Mugo Economy Published 03/21/2026, 03:15 AM Beijing courts Eli Lilly as weight-loss drug race drives $3bn China commitment 0 LLY -1.18% NVO -1.48% 3759 -1.55% Investing.com -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY ) is deepening its footprint in the world’s second-largest economy, with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressing hope that the pharmaceutical giant will "deepen its commitment" and pursue more aggressive growth targets. Upgrade to InvestingPro for a deeper dive into market-moving news During a meeting in Beijing on Saturday, Wang highlighted recent trade discussions in Paris as a "positive signal" for Sino-American cooperation, suggesting that a more stable geopolitical backdrop is providing greater certainty for multinational corporations operating within the mainland. The $3 billion “Orforglipron” bet The diplomatic overture coincides with Lilly’s ambitious plan to invest $3 billion in China over the next decade, a strategy spearheaded by CEO David Ricks. A significant portion of the capital is earmarked for the domestic manufacturing of orforglipron, Lilly’s experimental weight-loss pill currently under regulatory review by Chinese authorities. Ricks reiterated his optimism regarding the company’s development prospects, noting that the investment will help solidify Lilly’s position in a high-demand metabolic health market. To scale production quickly, Lilly is pivoting toward a hybrid manufacturing model. The d...