By Mrinalika Roy

(Reuters) -Eli Lilly hit $1 trillion in market value on Friday, making it the first drugmaker to enter the exclusive club dominated by tech giants and underscoring its rise as a weight-loss powerhouse.

A more than 35% rally in the company’s stock this year has largely been driven by the explosive growth of the weight-loss drug market.

In the last two years as new, highly effective obesity treatments hit the market, the category has moved from being an also-ran to one of the most lucrative segments in healthcare with steadily rising demand.

Novo Nordisk had the early lead in the space, but Lilly’s drugs – Mounjaro and Zepbound – have surged in popularity and helped eclipse its rival in prescriptions.

Lilly shares, which briefly hit record high, were trading nearly 1% h

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