Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Novo Nordisk NVO announced that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending the EU approval of a higher dose of its blockbuster obesity injection, Wegovy (semaglutide). NVO expects a final decision from the European Commission early in 2026.
The regulatory filing in the EU seeks approval for a 7.2 mg dose of the drug, which Novo Nordisk claims provides an option for “greater weight loss potential” than what is currently being offered by the available doses (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg).
Please note that Wegovy is currently approved in the EU for weight management, for reducing major cardiovascular events, easing HFpEF symptoms, and relieving osteoarthritis-related knee pain in obesity patients.
How Effective is NVO’s Higher-Dose Wegovy?
The positive CHMP opinion is supported by data from the phase III STEP UP study, which showed that obesity patients, who do not have diabetes, receiving a 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy for 72 weeks achieved an average weight loss of 20.7% compared with 2.4% with placebo and 17.5% with a 2.4 mg Wegovy dose.
Novo Nordisk also reported additional analyses from the study, showing that 33.2% of patients who took the 7.2 mg dose achieved at least 25% weight loss at 72 weeks compared with 16.7% in the 2.4 mg dose group. Data indicated that most of the weight loss with Wegovy, about 84%, was attributable to fat mass reduction, while muscle function was shown to remain intact. No patients in the placebo arm met this criterion. Per NVO, these substantial weight loss results complement the already established health benefits of Wegovy in its approved indications.
The safety and tolerability profile of the higher dose was consistent with that of the approved 2.4 mg dose. The data package also included results from the phase III STEP UP T2D study, which evaluated Wegovy 7.2 mg in obesity patients with type II diabetes.
In the past year, shares of Novo Nordisk have plunged 53.6% against the industry‘s 12.2% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Novo Nordisk has also applied to the EMA, seeking approval for a single-dose delivery device for Wegovy 7.2 mg.
Last month, Novo Nordisk submitted a regulatory filing in the United States seeking approval for Wegovy 7.2 mg to treat obesity. For this filing, Novo Nordisk is seeking an extra-fast review through the FDA’s Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program.
This program is designed to significantly fast-track the review of drugs and biologics addressing serious or life-threatening diseases with high unmet medical needs, reducing the standard review period from 10-12 months (6-8 months in case the drug is granted priority review designation) to just 1-2 months, following the FDA’s acceptance of the filing. The CNPV voucher was granted to the company by the agency earlier in November. The higher dose Wegovy is also currently under regulatory review in the United Kingdom and multiple other geographies.
Competition Heating Up in the Obesity Space
The obesity space has garnered much of the spotlight over the past year due to the sizeable and still underpenetrated market opportunity. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly LLY currently dominate this space.
Wegovy directly competes with Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide medicine Zepbound. Like Novo Nordisk, LLY also generates a substantial portion of its revenues from sales of this drug.
NVO and LLY are racing to introduce oral weight-loss pills. Novo Nordisk has already submitted a regulatory filing with the FDA seeking approval for an oral version of Wegovy, with a final decision expected soon. Novo Nordisk’s most advanced next-generation obesity candidate is CagriSema injection, a fixed-dose combination of cagrilintide and Wegovy. The company plans to file for its regulatory application in 2026. Novo Nordisk is currently gearing up to advance another next-generation candidate, amycretin, for weight management into late-stage development, both as an injection and oral pill. The phase III program on amycretin is planned to be initiated during the first quarter of 2026.
Eli Lilly is investing broadly in next-generation drugs and is currently developing a range of oral and injectable medications with different mechanisms of action. This includes two late-stage candidates, orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 small molecule and retatrutide, a GGG tri-agonist. LLY remains on track to submit regulatory filings for orforglipron in obesity soon, setting up the timeline for a potential launch next year. Like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly also secured a CNPV from the FDA for orforglipron earlier in November.
Novo Nordisk A/S Price and Consensus
Smaller biotech firms, like Viking Therapeutics VKTX and Structure Therapeutics GPCR, are also advancing GLP-1–based therapies to challenge the incumbents. Viking Therapeutics is developing its dual GIPR/GLP-1 RA, VK2735, both as oral and subcutaneous formulations for the treatment of obesity. In June, VKTX started two late-stage studies evaluating the subcutaneous formulation of VK2735. While one of these studies recently completed enrolment at a rapid pace, Viking Therapeutics expects to complete enrolment in the other study by the first quarter of 2026.
Last week, Structure Therapeutics reported meaningful weight-loss data from the ACCESS clinical program of its investigational candidate, aleniglipron, for treating obesity. Structure Therapeutics is gearing up to initiate late-stage studies of aleniglipron for obesity around mid-2026, pending alignment with the FDA. Shares of NVO and LLY were down following the news, signaling investor concerns amid the intensifying competitive landscape.
NVO’s Zacks Rank
Novo Nordisk currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
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CHMP Backs Higher-Dose Wegovy as Novo Nordisk Seeks 2026 EU Approval

Key Points
Together, these stocks offer you a balanced mix of growth and safety.
These companies span a number of industries, and many are leaders in their markets.
Overall, the past three years have been positive for investors, with the S&P 500 bull market going strong. The famous benchmark advanced more than 20% in each of the past two years, and today it's heading for yet another double-digit annual gain. Technology stocks have fueled this movement as artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as the next major game changer, and investors also piled into growth stocks across industries on optimism about lower interest rates.
It's impossible to predict with 100% certainty which direction the S&P 500 will take next year, but there's reason to be optimistic about its performance then and over time; history shows us that bull markets usually last much longer than bear markets.
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With all of this in mind, let's check out my top 10 stocks to buy for 2026. They offer you a balanced blend of characteristics, from growth and innovation to safety and passive income.
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1. Nvidia
Let's start with a company that has significantly driven market gains during this AI boom: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), the world's leading AI chip designer. This tech giant has seen earnings soar, and this movement may have much farther to go, as this technology is in the early chapters of its story.
Nvidia's positioned to benefit greatly from AI infrastructure spending, which may reach into the trillions of dollars over the next five years. And, over time, AI models will continue to rely on chips to power them through their job of applying AI to real-world problems. All of this suggests many bright days ahead for Nvidia and its shareholders.
2. Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) already has seen earnings take off thanks to its weight loss drug portfolio. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and as Zepbound for weight loss, has delivered blockbuster revenue -- and has helped Lilly's total revenue climb in the double-digits.
Recently, Lilly delivered solid phase 3 results for its oral weight loss candidate -- orforglipron -- and regulatory review of that candidate is the next step. All of this means orforglipron soon may reach commercialization and boost Lilly's already booming weight loss portfolio.
This makes right now an excellent time to get in on this pharma player that offers you safety and growth.
3. American Express
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a giant in the payment card market, generally serving high-income customers. Its membership base makes the company a solid investment during any economic environment, because high-income individuals continue spending regardless of the economic situation -- and this has resulted in steady earnings growth for American Express over time.
In recent quarters, American Express has spoken of growth in younger customers -- Millennials and Gen-Z made up 64% of new accounts in the latest quarter. This suggests the payments powerhouse is well-positioned for more growth in the years to come.
4. CoreWeave
CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) exploded onto the scene this year, climbing more than 300% from its market launch in March through June. The stock has since dropped from that high -- and it now has plenty of room to run.
This company offers AI customers what they need most today, and likely into the future, and that's capacity for workloads. CoreWeave rents out its fleet of high-powered chips, and this could drive the company's already surging revenue higher in 2026 -- and beyond. So, now is a great time to get in on this AI growth player.
5. Viking Therapeutics
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) aims to enter the billion-dollar weight loss drug market, and so far, the company is marching steadily toward that goal. Viking's injectable candidate is involved in phase 3 trials, and its oral candidate is involved in phase 2 -- both have delivered promising results so far.
Though Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk dominate the market right now, demand is high, suggesting there's room for others to carve out share here. Viking, with candidates that function in the same way as the Lilly and Novo drugs, could emerge as a new winner in this market in a few years -- so it's a wise idea to get in on this story early.
6. Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), trading for 26x forward earnings estimates, is the cheapest of the Magnificent Seven tech stocks that have led market gains. That's one reason to buy the stock now.
And I have two more reasons: Meta is a well-established company with earnings growth you can count on, and it also offers you a top AI bet. Meta is committed to investing in AI and using it to supercharge revenue in the years to come. The company already has gotten started, building its own large language model and virtual assistant, for example. But much more should be on the horizon, making this an exciting and cheap growth stock to buy now.
7. Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is a Dividend King, meaning it's raised its dividend payments for more than 50 consecutive years. This shows the company's commitment to dividend growth, and Abbott's strong free cash flow suggests it has what it takes to keep this on track, too.
I also like Abbott because of its diversification across businesses -- medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition, and established pharmaceuticals. This broad range of operations is positive because, if and when one faces headwinds, others may compensate. On top of this, Abbott sells industry-leading products, such as the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor and Ensure nutrition drinks. All of this makes it a solid healthcare stock to buy and hold.
8. UnitedHealth
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), the biggest U.S. health insurer, has faced various headwinds in recent quarters -- including the rising costs of healthcare. But the company has taken note of the issues that have weighed on earnings and is addressing them.
The efforts -- such as cutting certain plans and using AI to gain in efficiency -- already are bearing fruit, with the company recently increasing its guidance for full-year earnings. Meanwhile, the stock, considering UnitedHealth's industry leadership and long-term prospects, looks cheap at 20x forward earnings estimates. So if you're looking for a promising recovery story for 2026, UnitedHealth may be it.
9. Chewy
Chewy (NYSE: CHWY) is the best friend of cats, dogs, and goldfish -- and you might take a liking to this company too. That's because this e-commerce player selling pet food, toys, healthcare, and more has a loyal following of customers, and this has led to steady growth.
The key number I always point out is Chewy's AutoShip sales -- this program allows for the automatic reordering of your favorite products according to a schedule you choose. AutoShip sales account for more than 80% of Chewy's net sales, offering us visibility on sales to come. Chewy also is profitable and debt-free, two other reasons to like this consumer goods stock.
10. Amazon
Finally, if you aim to invest in an established market giant that also offers you outstanding growth potential, consider Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). The e-commerce and cloud computing titan has an established track record of growth and billion-dollar profit – but it's not stopping there and instead is set to win in the high-potential area of AI.
AI already has helped Amazon Web Services (AWS) reach a $132 billion annual revenue run rate, and AI has been favoring efficiency across Amazon's e-commerce business. Moving forward, AI could continue to supercharge growth in both of these businesses, making the stock look reasonably priced now at 32x forward earnings estimates.
And that's why Amazon is a top tech stock to buy and hold for 2026 and beyond.
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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon and American Express. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories, Amazon, Chewy, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk, UnitedHealth Group, and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

My Top 10 Stocks to Buy for 2026

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Walmart Inc (Symbol: WMT), where a total volume of 101,173 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 10.1 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 42.1% of WMT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 24.0 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $117 strike call option expiring December 12, 2025, with 8,940 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 894,000 underlying shares of WMT. Below is a chart showing WMT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $117 strike highlighted in orange:
Viking Therapeutics Inc (Symbol: VKTX) options are showing a volume of 12,563 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.3 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 41.8% of VKTX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.0 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $40 strike call option expiring December 12, 2025, with 1,485 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 148,500 underlying shares of VKTX. Below is a chart showing VKTX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $40 strike highlighted in orange:
And Dominos Pizza Inc. (Symbol: DPZ) options are showing a volume of 2,141 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 214,100 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 41.6% of DPZ's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 515,255 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $380 strike put option expiring December 19, 2025, with 1,454 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 145,400 underlying shares of DPZ. Below is a chart showing DPZ's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $380 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for WMT options, VKTX options, or DPZ options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Best Value Stocks
CHEK shares outstanding history
IKT YTD Return
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Friday Option Activity: WMT, VKTX, DPZ

Shares of Eli Lilly LLY rose nearly 2% on Thursday after the company announced that a late-stage study evaluating its experimental once-weekly weight-loss drug, retatrutide, met all primary and key secondary endpoints.
This study, called TRIUMPH-4, evaluated two doses (9 mg and 12 mg) of the drug for 68 weeks against placebo in adults with obesity or overweight and knee osteoarthritis (OA), and without diabetes. Ei Lilly reported results using two approaches — an efficacy estimand, which reflects outcomes in patients who stayed on treatment throughout the study period, and a treatment-regimen estimand, which incorporates data from patients who discontinued treatment.
Under the efficacy estimand, Eli Lilly reported that patients on the 12 mg dose lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight, while those on the 9 mg dose lost 26.4%. In comparison, patients on placebo lost 2.1% of their body weight. For the other co-primary endpoint of improvement in knee pain, retatrutide achieved a reduction of 74-76% across both doses compared with the 40.3% reported in the placebo group.
Concerning the treatment-regimen estimand, patients on the 12 mg dose lost an average of 23.7% of their body weight while the 9 mg dose generated a 20% reduction. In comparison, patients on placebo achieved a 4.6% reduction. For the other endpoint, both retatrutide doses delivered a 62-67% reduction in knee pain compared with 35.1% in the placebo arm.
However, patients treated with retatrutide also reported higher rates of adverse effects than the placebo group. Most common symptoms included nausea, constipation, vomiting and dysesthesia, which led to higher dropouts in the study. Eli Lilly reported that the discontinuation rates due to adverse events stood at 12.2% for the 9 mg drug dose and 18.2% for the 12 mg dose compared to 4.0% in the placebo group.
The TRIUMPH-4 is the first of the eight late-stage studies evaluating retatrutide across various cardiometabolic indications, including obesity with at least one weight-related medical problem, type II diabetes, sleep apnea and chronic low back pain. Data from the remaining seven studies are expected throughout next year.
LLY Stock Performance
Investors broadly welcomed the results, which surpassed early expectations and renewed optimism for retatrutide’s potential across multiple indications. Some have also highlighted the drug’s distinct mechanism versus Eli Lilly’s leading GLP-1 therapy, Zepbound. Retatrutide activates three hormone receptors — GLP-1, GIP and glucagon — compared with Zepbound, which targets GLP-1 and GIP. By comparison, Novo Nordisk’s NVO obesity drug Wegovy activates only GLP-1.
Year to date, shares of Eli Lilly have rallied 31% compared with the industry‘s 15% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Competition Escalates in the Obesity Space
According to research conducted by Goldman Sachs, the obesity market in the United States is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk presently dominate this space with their respective injectables.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are racing to introduce oral weight-loss pills. NVO has already submitted a regulatory filing with the FDA seeking approval for an oral version of Wegovy, with a final decision expected before this year’s end. It is also developing several next-generation candidates in its obesity pipeline, including CagriSema (a combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide) and an oral pill, amycretin (a dual GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist).
LLY is investing broadly in obesity and has several new molecules currently in clinical development, with a range of oral and injectable medications using different mechanisms of action. Another key late-stage asset is orforglipron, its once-daily oral GLP-1, which remains on track for a regulatory submission before the end of 2025 — positioning it for a potential launch next year.
Several other companies, like Viking Therapeutics VKTX, are also making rapid progress in the obesity space. In June, VKTX started two late-stage studies evaluating the subcutaneous formulation of its investigational obesity drug, VK2735. While one of these studies recently completed enrolment at a rapid pace, the company expects to complete enrolment in the other study by early 2026.
Last month, Pfizer PFE closed the acquisition of obesity drug developer Metsera for around $10 billion, after a heated bidding war against Novo Nordisk. The Metsera acquisition brought Pfizer back into the lucrative obesity space by adding the latter’s four novel clinical-stage incretin and amylin programs, which are expected to generate billions of dollars in peak sales. Earlier this week, Pfizer has declared that it is in-licensing exclusive global rights to develop and market an oral small molecule GLP-1 drug from a leading Chinese drugmaker.
Eli Lilly and Company Price
LLY’s Zacks Rank
Eli Lilly currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Eli Lilly's Next-Generation Obesity Drug Secures First Phase III Win

Key Points
The best-performing stock on this list is up just 4% this year.
Investors may be undervaluing these companies' growth opportunities.
Their valuations look attractive and could result in significant gains ahead.
Are you looking for a top growth stock to buy heading into 2026? Although valuations are high for many stocks, there are some potential deals still out there right now.
Three stocks that haven't been doing that well this year and that investors may not be valuing as highly as they should be are Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), and Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL). Here's a closer look at why these growth stocks look underrated, and why they can be big winners next year.
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Amazon
Tech giant Amazon has a market cap of $2.4 trillion, but it still looks like an underrated buy. Despite having plenty of growth opportunities related to artificial intelligence (AI), it has drastically underperformed the S&P 500 this year. It's up just 3% while the broad index has rallied by more than 16%. And as of Monday's close, it was also the worst performer among the "Magnificent Seven" this year.
Amazon is trading at 32 times its trailing earnings, which is far below the 42 times earnings of the average stock in the Technology Selector Sector SPDR ETF. Although the company's online marketplace and warehouses can benefit significantly from AI, investors appear to be hesitant about the stock's future.
However, in the long run, it's even easier to make the case for much more growth at Amazon. The company has a robotaxi business in Zoox and is also making its own AI chips. Meanwhile, its cloud business is growing well at 20% in the company's most recent quarter (it ended on Sept. 30). Amazon's overall growth rate still looks solid at 13% overall, and with many exciting growth opportunities ahead, it may be an underrated buy for the long haul.
Viking Therapeutics
One of the best healthcare stocks to own today looks to be Viking Therapeutics. It's down 3% this year as investors dumped the stock back in August, when analysts were concerned about a high discontinuation rate from its weight loss pill, VK2735.
The stock was so beaten down that I predicted it would double in value when it was around $23. The only reason I didn't buy it then was that I was hoping it would fall a bit further, which unfortunately didn't happen. Today, it's back up to around $39, nearly where it was before the sell-off took place.
Viking has a lot of promise in the GLP-1 space as the injectable version of VK2735 is in phase 3 trials and the results thus far have been encouraging. Although the stock has nearly recovered from the sharp decline in August, it can still rise much higher -- if VK2735 obtains approval from regulators, that would be a game changer for the business, and it could make Viking a big acquisition target.
There's some risk here because Viking doesn't have an approved product in its portfolio just yet, but I'm optimistic that investors could generate some incredible returns from buying the stock at these levels.
Carnival Corp.
Another stock that I believe investors are overlooking today is Carnival. The cruise ship operator's stock has risen by just 4% this year and it trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of only 13. That's well below the S&P 500 average of 25.
Investors may be feeling extra cautious about the travel stock given the uncertainty in the economy these days. But I believe that may end up working in Carnival's favor, as its low-priced cruises can give consumers ways to take a reasonably priced vacation.
Carnival has been posting record numbers, and its financials look solid with the company reporting an operating profit in each of the past four quarters. At a low valuation, Carnival is an attractive stock to own as it gives investors a good margin of safety. The consensus analyst price target for the stock is over $33, with an implied upside of 29%.
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David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Underrated Growth Stocks That Look Like Great Buys Heading Into 2026

Novo Nordisk NVO is a dominant player in the cardiometabolic space, marketing its blockbuster semaglutide-based (GLP-1) drugs — Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for obesity). Despite being NVO’s key growth drivers, sales momentum for both drugs has slowed in recent quarters due to pricing pressure, intensifying GLP-1 competition from Eli Lilly LLY, foreign exchange headwinds, and widespread compounded semaglutide use in the United States.
Adding to the pressure, several smaller biotech players are advancing rapidly in the obesity arena, attracted by the sizeable and still underpenetrated market opportunity. Earlier this week, Structure Therapeutics GPCR reported positive top-line data from the ACCESS clinical program of its investigational candidate, aleniglipron, for treating obesity.
In the core 36-week phase IIb ACCESS study, GPCR’s aleniglipron met its primary and all key secondary endpoints, with the 120 mg dose delivering an 11.3% placebo-adjusted weight loss. Higher doses drove deeper reductions, reaching 15.3% at 240 mg. Extension data showed continued weight loss through 44 weeks with no plateau, supporting durability and advancement to phase III.
Structure Therapeutics is gearing up to initiate late-stage studies of aleniglipron for obesity around mid-2026, pending alignment with the FDA. Shares of NVO were down following the news, signaling investor concerns amid the intensifying competitive landscape. GPCR is also building depth in its obesity pipeline, with ANPA-0073 currently awaiting initiation of mid-stage development, alongside several preclinical programs.
To address this, Novo Nordisk is advancing a slate of next-generation obesity candidates while pursuing label expansions for its semaglutide franchise. The most advanced candidate in Novo Nordisk’s pipeline is CagriSema injection, a fixed-dose combination of cagrilintide and Wegovy. CagriSema achieved statistically significant weight loss in two late-stage studies, REDEFINE 1 and REDEFINE 2, but delivered efficacy that was less than expected. Novo Nordisk plans to file for its regulatory application in 2026.
The company also reported superior weight loss from a sub-analysis of its phase III REDEFINE 1 study, which tested cagrilintide injection as a monotherapy in obese adults, but without diabetes. A dedicated phase III RENEW program for cagrilintide is planned to start soon. NVO is developing oral and subcutaneous formulations of a mid-stage candidate, amycretin, for obesity and diabetes indications. Novo Nordisk is also developing oral monlunabant in a mid-stage obesity study. The company recently signed a $2.2 billion deal with Septerna for developing and commercializing oral small-molecule medicines for treating obesity, diabetes, and other cardiometabolic diseases.
Overall, while intensifying GLP-1 competition and slowing semaglutide momentum pose near-term challenges, Novo Nordisk’s ability to defend its obesity lead in the long term will likely hinge on the clinical and commercial success of its next-generation obesity pipeline as emerging rivals continue to close the gap.
Competition Heating Up in the Obesity Space
Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk’s fierce competitor in the obesity space, markets its tirzepatide medicines as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. Like NVO, Lilly is investing broadly in obesity and has several new molecules currently in clinical development with a range of oral and injectable medications with different mechanisms of action. These include two late-stage candidates, orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 small molecule, and retatrutide, a GGG triagonist, along with some mid-stage candidates, bimagrumab, eloralintide, and mazdutide. LLY plans to file regulatory applications for orforglipron in obesity soon, setting up the timeline for a potential launch next year.
Another small biotech company making rapid progress in the development of GLP-1-based candidates in its clinical pipeline is Viking Therapeutics VKTX. VKTX’s dual GIPR/GLP-1 RA, VK2735, is being developed both as oral and subcutaneous formulations for the treatment of obesity. In June, Viking Therapeutics started two late-stage studies evaluating the subcutaneous formulation of its investigational obesity drug, VK2735. While one of these studies recently completed enrolment at a rapid pace, VKTX expects to complete enrolment in the other study by early 2026.
NVO Stock’s Price, Valuation & Estimates
In the past year, Novo Nordisk shares have plunged 58.5% against the industry’s 7.1% growth. The company has also underperformed the sector and the S&P 500 during the same time frame, as seen in the chart below.
NVO Stock Underperforms the Industry, Sector & the S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Novo Nordisk is trading at a discount to the industry, as seen in the chart below. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 12.73 forward earnings, which is lower than 16.48 for the industry. The stock is trading much below its five-year mean of 29.25.
NVO Stock Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for 2025 have deteriorated from $3.66 to $3.58 per share over the past 60 days. During the same time frame, Novo Nordisk’s 2026 earnings estimates have declined from $3.91 to $3.65.
NVO Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Novo Nordisk currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
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Can NVO Defend Its Obesity Lead as GLP-1 Competition Intensifies?

Pfizer PFE announced that it is in-licensing exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize YP05002, an oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) from YaoPharma, a subsidiary of China’s leading drugmaker, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical.
YP05002 is currently being evaluated in phase I for treating obesity. Once-daily oral small molecule GLP-1 RAs are believed to have the potential to transform obesity treatment and broaden access.
YaoPharma will complete the phase I study on YP05002 before handing over exclusive rights to Pfizer to further develop the candidate. Pfizer plans to evaluate YP05002 in combination with its own GIPR antagonist PF-07976016, which is currently in phase II development and also with other small molecule candidates in its early-stage pipeline.
Under the deal, YaoPharma will receive an upfront payment of $150 million from Pfizer, as well as the right to future milestone payments of up to $1.935 billion and tiered royalties on sales, if approved.
YaoPharma Strengthens Pfizer’s Obesity Presence
The global collaboration and license agreement with YaoPharma strengthens Pfizer’s presence in the obesity space, where it has been looking to get a foothold after it scrapped the development of danuglipron, a weight-loss pill, earlier this year. To pursue this objective, in November, it acquired obesity drugmaker, Metsera, for $10 billion, after a heated bidding war with Danish rival, Novo Nordisk NVO.
The acquisition adds Metsera’s four novel clinical-stage incretin and amylin programs in obesity, which are expected to generate billions of dollars in peak sales.
Pfizer failed to develop its own obesity candidate earlier this year. In April, Pfizer discontinued the development of its GLP-1R agonist, danuglipron, which was being developed as a weight loss pill. Pfizer took the decision after one of the participants in the dose-optimization studies developed a potentially drug-induced liver injury, which resolved after danuglipron was discontinued. The deal with Metsera and the license agreement with Yaopharma bring Pfizer back strongly on the obesity map.
LLY, NVO & Others Also Make Oral GLP-1 Pills
The obesity market is expected to expand to $100 billion by 2030, according to data from Goldman Sachs. Eli Lilly LLY and Novo Nordisk presently dominate the market, with their popular GLP-1 drugs, Zepbound and Wegovy, respectively, which are injectable treatments.
Novo Nordisk, LLY, Structure Therapeutics and Viking Therapeutics VKTX are racing to introduce oral weight-loss pills as these have the potential to be more convenient alternatives to injections like Zepbound and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk has already filed regulatory applications for an oral version of Wegovy in the United States and the EU and also has an oral pill, amycretin (a dual GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist) in its pipeline. The FDA is expected to decide on the Wegovy oral formulation NDA later this year.
Lilly has announced positive data across six studies on orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 small molecule, in obesity and type II diabetes. Lilly plans to file regulatory applications for orforglipron in obesity later this year, setting up the timeline for a potential launch next year. For the type II diabetes indication, Lilly plans to file regulatory applications in the first half of 2026.
Viking’s dual GIPR/GLP-1 receptor agonist, VK2735, is being developed both as oral and subcutaneous formulations for the treatment of obesity.
Earlier this week, Structure Therapeutics announced positive top-line data from the ACCESS clinical program on aleniglipron, its once-daily oral small molecule GLP-1 RA, for treating obesity. In the ACCESS studies, aleniglipron delivered clinically meaningful and dose-dependent weight loss without any evidence of a plateau by week 36. The safety profile of aleniglipron seen in the studies was appropriate for chronic use. Structure Therapeutics is gearing up to initiate late-stage studies of aleniglipron for obesity around mid-2026, pending alignment with the FDA.
PFE’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Pfizer’s stock has declined 4.5% so far this year against an increase of 12.8% for the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Pfizer appears attractive relative to the industry and is trading below its 5-year mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 8.04 forward earnings, lower than 16.48 for the industry and the stock’s 5-year mean of 10.43.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has risen from $3.08 per share to $3.14 per share, while that for 2026 has been stable at $3.15 per share over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Pfizer has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks Naming Top 10 Stocks for 2026
Want to be tipped off early to our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2026? History suggests their performance could be sensational.
From 2012 (when our Director of Research Sheraz Mian assumed responsibility for the portfolio) through November, 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,530.8%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +570.3%.
Now Sheraz is combing through 4,400 companies to handpick the best 10 tickers to buy and hold in 2026. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these stocks when they’re released on January 5.
Be First to New Top 10 Stocks >>
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

PFE Buys Oral GLP-1 Drug From China Biotech to Boost Obesity Presence

Shares of Structure Therapeutics GPCR skyrocketed 102.5% after the company reported positive top-line data from the ACCESS clinical program of aleniglipron for the treatment of obesity and/or overweight patients with at least one weight-related co-morbidity. Aleniglipron, the most advanced candidate in GPCR’s pipeline, is an investigational, orally available GLP-1 RA, designed to address patient needs and accessibility.
The latest data readout is from the 36-week core phase IIb ACCESS study and the ongoing exploratory ACCESS II study, and interim data from the ongoing Body Composition study and the ACCESS open-label extension (OLE) study.
GPCR’s Phase II ACCESS Program Results in Detail
In the core 36-week phase IIb ACCESS study, Structure Therapeutics’ aleniglipron delivered statistically significant, dose-dependent weight loss across all active arms, with the highest 120 mg dose achieving a placebo-adjusted mean weight reduction of 11.3% (27.3 lbs), meeting the primary endpoint. The study also met all key secondary endpoints, with 86% of patients on the 120mg dose achieving at least 5% weight loss and 70% achieving at least 10% weight loss, alongside improvements in systolic blood pressure and HbA1c.
More pronounced weight-loss effects were observed in the exploratory ACCESS II study evaluating higher doses of the candidate. At 36 weeks, placebo-adjusted mean weight loss reached 15.3% (35.5 lbs) with the 240 mg dose, with all tested doses meeting statistical significance compared to placebo. Follow-up data from the ACCESS OLE study of aleniglipron further showed continued weight reduction through 44 weeks, with no evidence of an efficacy plateau, supporting the durability of the response and strengthening the rationale for advancing to phase III.
In the past year, Structure Therapeutics' shares have surged 101.7% compared with the industry’s 10.2% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Aleniglipron demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the GLP-1 RA class, with gastrointestinal events being the most common adverse effects, typically occurring early in treatment. In the phase IIb ACCESS study, treatment discontinuations due to adverse events averaged 10.4% across active dose arms, with similar patterns observed at higher doses in ACCESS II. Notably, studies using a lower 2.5 mg starting dose showed improved tolerability, with no adverse event-related discontinuations reported in either the body composition or OLE studies at the 2.5 mg or subsequent 5 mg doses. Across the broader clinical program, no drug-induced liver injury, sustained liver enzyme elevations, or QTc prolongation were observed, supporting aleniglipron’s favorable safety profile as it advances toward late-stage development.
GPCR’s Next Steps in the Aleniglipron Development Plan
Based on the encouraging results from the ACCESS, ACCESS II, body composition and ACCESS OLE studies, Structure Therapeutics is currently gearing up to advance aleniglipron into phase III development.
The company intends to request a Type B end-of-phase 2 meeting with the FDA in the first half of 2026 to align on the impending phase III study design, which currently incorporates a lower 2.5 mg starting dose and plans to assess multiple dose levels up to 240 mg. Structure Therapeutics expects to initiate the phase III program of aleniglipron to treat obesity and/or overweight patients around mid-2026.
Beyond aleniglipron, Structure Therapeutics is developing ANPA-0073, a phase II-ready APJR agonist candidate designed to enable selective, muscle-sparing weight loss. GPCR is also advancing several obesity drug candidates based on different mechanisms of action at the preclinical stage, including dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) and glucagon receptor agonists. The company’s pipeline also includes a promising candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Structure Therapeutics Inc. Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus
Competition Intensifies in the Obesity Space
Eli Lilly LLY and Novo Nordisk NVO dominate the obesity space with their respective obesity drugs, Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide). Stocks of both these key players were down on Wednesday following GPCR’s encouraging phase II obesity results.
According to research conducted by Goldman Sachs, the obesity market in the United States is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030. This is evident from the fact that LLY and NVO have not only optimized their production capacities but are also developing more potent and convenient GLP-1-based candidates in their clinical pipeline.
NVO and LLY are racing to introduce oral weight-loss pills. Novo Nordisk has already submitted a regulatory filing with the FDA seeking approval for an oral version of Wegovy, with a final decision expected soon. NVO is also developing several next-generation candidates in its obesity pipeline, including CagriSema (a combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide) and an oral pill, amycretin (a dual GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist).
Lilly is investing broadly in obesity and has several new molecules currently in clinical development, with a range of oral and injectable medications using different mechanisms of action. This includes two late-stage candidates, orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 small molecule, and retatrutide, a GGG tri-agonist, along with some mid-stage candidates, bimagrumab, eloralintide, and mazdutide. LLY plans to file regulatory applications for orforglipron in obesity soon, setting up the timeline for a potential launch next year.
Several other companies, like Viking Therapeutics VKTX, are also making rapid progress in the development of GLP-1-based candidates in their clinical pipeline.
Viking Therapeutics’ dual GIPR/GLP-1 receptor agonist, VK2735, is being developed both as oral and subcutaneous formulations for the treatment of obesity. In June, VKTX started two late-stage studies evaluating the subcutaneous formulation of its investigational obesity drug, VK2735. While one of these studies recently completed enrolment at a rapid pace, VKTX expects to complete enrolment in the other study by early 2026.
GPCR’s Zacks Rank
Structure Therapeutics currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.
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GPCR Stock Soars 102% on Strong Phase II Obesity Data for Aleniglipron

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in General Motors Co (Symbol: GM), where a total of 73,915 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 7.4 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 86.1% of GM's average daily trading volume over the past month of 8.6 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $73 strike call option expiring December 05, 2025, with 9,399 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 939,900 underlying shares of GM. Below is a chart showing GM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $73 strike highlighted in orange:
Viking Therapeutics Inc (Symbol: VKTX) saw options trading volume of 29,557 contracts, representing approximately 3.0 million underlying shares or approximately 84% of VKTX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $50 strike call option expiring January 16, 2026, with 2,090 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 209,000 underlying shares of VKTX. Below is a chart showing VKTX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50 strike highlighted in orange:
And Intuitive Machines Inc (Symbol: LUNR) saw options trading volume of 46,961 contracts, representing approximately 4.7 million underlying shares or approximately 78.1% of LUNR's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.0 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $12 strike call option expiring December 19, 2025, with 9,783 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 978,300 underlying shares of LUNR. Below is a chart showing LUNR's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $12 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for GM options, VKTX options, or LUNR options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Funds Holding IMDZ
Funds Holding LLIT
Institutional Holders of ADX
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: GM, VKTX, LUNR

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Regeneron (REGN). Shares have added about 20.2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Regeneron due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
REGN’s Q3 Earnings Beat, Eylea HD Sales Increase
Regeneron reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $11.83, which comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.44. However, the bottom line was down 5% from $12.46 recorded in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to higher expenses.
Total revenues grew 1% year over year to $3.7 billion due to higher sales of Eylea HD and increased Dupixent profits. Revenues also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.6 billion.
Eylea HD, Dupiexent Power REGN’s Q3 Results
Lead drug, Eylea, is approved for various ophthalmology indications (neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and macular edema, among others).
Eylea’s sales in the United States plunged 41% year over year to $681 million, primarily due to increased competition from other drugs like Roche’s Vabysmo, loss in market share to compounded bevacizumab due to patient affordability constraints and transition of patients to higher doses of the drug (Eylea HD).
Nonetheless, Eylea sales in the United States fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $686 million.
Please note that Regeneron co-developed Eylea with the HealthCare unit of Bayer AG. Regeneron records net product sales of Eylea and Eylea HD in the United States and Bayer does the same outside the country. The company records its share of profits in connection with Eylea and Eylea HD sales outside the United States within collaboration revenues.
In August 2023, the FDA approved Eylea HD (higher dose of Eylea) for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy.
Eylea HD generated revenues of $431 million in the United States, up 10% year over year, due to higher sales volumes driven by increased demand. Eylea HD sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $414 million.
Total revenues include collaboration revenues of $2 billion from Sanofi and Bayer. The figure increased 18.6% from that recorded in the year-ago quarter. Total collaboration revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.8 billion.
Sanofi’s collaboration revenues increased 28% to $1.6 billion, driven by profits associated with higher Dupixent sales. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.5 billion. We note that Sanofi records global net product sales of Dupixent and Kevzara, while Regeneron records its share of profits/losses in connection with the global sales of both drugs within collaboration revenues.
Dupixent’s sales increased 27% year over year to $4.86 billion.
Bayer’s collaboration revenues totaled $345 million, down 12% year over year.
Regeneron records net product sales of Praluent in the United States and Sanofi does the same outside the country. SNY pays REGN a royalty on such sales. Regeneron records global net product sales of Libtayo and pays Sanofi a royalty on such sales.
Total Libtayo sales were $365.2 million, up 27% year over year. The figure, however, missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $370 million.
Praluent’s net sales in the United States were $67.7 million. Kevzara recorded global sales of $154 million, up 28% from the year-ago quarter’s level.
Gross margin on net product sales decreased to 86% from 89% due to ongoing investments to support the manufacturing operations.
Adjusted R&D expenses increased 18% year over year to $1.3 billion due to the advancement of the company's pipeline. Adjusted SG&A expenses decreased 12% to $541 million.
In February 2025, the board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program to repurchase up to an additional $3.0 billion of the common stock. During the second quarter of 2025, REGN repurchased shares for $663 million.
As of June 30, 2025, approximately $2.156 billion remained available for share repurchases.
Key Pipeline and Regulatory Updates
The European Medicines Agency’s (“EMA”) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion recommending the approval of Dupixent in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older who remain symptomatic despite antihistamine treatment.
A decision from the European Commission is expected in the coming months.
The FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) for the pre-filled syringe supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) seeking approval of Eylea HD. The sole approvability issue cited in the CRL relates to unresolved inspection findings at Catalent.
Regeneron is planning to submit an application to include a new pre-filled syringe manufacturing filler in the Eylea HD BLA by January 2026.
The FDA recently approved the label expansion of PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo as an adjuvant treatment for adult patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (“CSCC”) at high risk of recurrence after surgery and radiation.
The EMA's CHMP also adopted a positive opinion on Libtayo for the adjuvant treatment of CSCC.
Regeneron also announced that the primary and key secondary endpoints were met in a phase III study of cemdisiran (siRNA therapy), as both a monotherapy and in combination with pozelimab (C5 antibody), in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis. A regulatory submission for cemdisiran monotherapy is planned for the first quarter of 2026 in the United States pending discussions with the FDA.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
The consensus estimate has shifted 12.49% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
At this time, Regeneron has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Regeneron has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
Regeneron is part of the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry. Over the past month, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX), a stock from the same industry, has gained 3%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended September 2025 more than a month ago.
Viking Therapeutics reported revenues of $0 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of 0%. EPS of -$0.81 for the same period compares with -$0.22 a year ago.
Viking Therapeutics is expected to post a loss of $0.88 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -175%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
Viking Therapeutics has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
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