Eli Lillys 414 Billion Surge to 18th Rank Amid Legal Storm Over GLP1 Kickbacks

On August 13, 2025, Eli Lilly (LLY) saw a trading volume of $4.14 billion, ranking 18th in market activity. Shares rose 3.29% amid legal challenges that could impact long-term business practices.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit alleging Eli Lilly engaged in a kickback scheme involving GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro and Zepbound. The state claims the company provided "free nurses" and reimbursement services to healthcare providers in exchange for preferential prescriptions, violating Medicaid fraud prevention laws. The lawsuit highlights widespread allegations across 20 products, including diabetes, cancer, and migraine treatments, accusing the firm of manipulating prescribing patterns to boost profits at public expense.

This follows prior legal actions by Paxton against Eli Lilly, including a 2024 lawsuit targeting insulin pricing collusion with pharmacy benefit managers. While the company maintains it will "vigorously defend" against current claims, historical court decisions have dismissed similar allegations from the same plaintiff. A 2021 appellate ruling upheld a dismissal of a 2017 case involving free nursing services in exchange for prescriptions. The current case, however, centers on Medicaid claims tainted by alleged marketing practices, potentially exposing the firm to financial penalties.

A strategy of holding top-volume stocks for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 20.15% gain, underscoring the enduring influence of trading volume on short-term equity performance.