Why Is Simone Biles the Face of Mounjaro? Her Mom's Connection

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 Simone Biles Mounjaro Olympic ad

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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9aBPj5OCnX/

Biles shared the ad on her Instagram page, writing, “It’s always so exciting to get to work with my mom, especially on something so personal to us. Watch to learn more about our partnership.”

Why is Mounjaro partnering with Biles?

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 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.  

Lilly recently named Simone Biles, as well as six other Team USA athletes, including gymnast Suni Lee, volleyball star Sarah Hughes, swimmer Chase Kalisz, track and field’s Gabby Thomas. The para-athletes that are partnered with the company are track and field stars Nick Mayhugh and Roderick Townsend.

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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