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First For Women
Why Is Simone Biles the Face of Commonly Used Weight Loss Drug Mounjaro? Her Personal Connection
11 days ago
Viewers of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris may have been surprised to see Simone Biles partner with Mounjaro, a drug not designed for but commonly used for weight loss. But the eight-time Olympic medalist has a personal connection to the medication, originally intended to help people living with type 2 diabetes: her mom, Nellie Biles. Nellie, a retired nurse, lives with the condition every day, and it’s something that Simone has been an advocate for throughout her career.
Simone and Nellie have chosen to partner with Mounjaro amidst the Olympics-focused marketing campaign to raise awareness about the treatment option. While neither of the Biles women take the drug, they are passionate about sharing the information with others.
What is Mounjaro?
Owned by the pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro is “the first and only approved treatment in a different class of medication for type 2 diabetes,” according to the drug’s website.
Mounjaro is an injectable prescription medicine “ that is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.” The drug can help to regulate a patient’s blood sugar and decrease their food intake; however, Mounjaro is not intended to be a weight loss drug.
Mounjaro is taken via injection and is a single-dose pen, so no need to measure anything out. It is taken once a week on the same day every week. Thanks to the pen’s design, there is no need for the patient to handle the needle.
The ad starts off with an image of Simone and her mother’s voice over stating, “ My daughter works hard , and so do people with type 2 diabetes. But if their efforts aren’t enough, could people do diabetes differently?” Viewers can then see Simone perform a floor routine while another voiceover shares the benefits and the side effects of the drug.
At the end of the ad, Simone greets fans, walks off with her mother and says, “You can do diabetes differently, with Mounjaro.”
Eli Lilly has chosen to partner with the Olympian and her mother after facing supply constraints. The pharmaceutical company hopes to increase sales by featuring a beloved face, and what better way to do that than partner with the most accomplished gymnast.
Lilly shared in an earnings call, “ Lilly expects sales growth for incretin medicines to primarily be a function of the quantity the company can produce and ship.” However, the ad may not do much for sales if the company cannot meet the demand that is created by advertising.
President Patrik Jonsson of Lilly diabetes and obesity shared an update to investors in June, stating, “I think we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
All about Lilly’s partnership with Team USA
Lilly Headquarters Building (2024) Scott Olson / Staff / Getty
Lilly extended its partnership with Team USA, which allows the pharmaceutical company to work with the Olympic and Paralympic athletes throughout the 2024 Paris games and the 2028 Los Angeles games.
Each athlete is partnered with the company or a specific brand. Biles’ teammate, Suni Lee, is partnered with Lilly to advocate for those with eczema. While Team USA is out there winning medals, they are also helping others, one ad at a time.
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