Key Takeaways
- Eli Lilly (LLY) has bolstered its position in the competitive obesity and cardiometabolic drug market, signing a US$1.3 billion deal with Superluminal Medicines to leverage AI for new drug discovery.
- Novo Nordisk (NVO) has announced a significant leadership change, appointing Maziar Mike Doustdar as its new President and CEO amid a 40.8% year-to-date stock decline and intensifying competition in the GLP-1 obesity treatment space.
- Duke Energy Corp (DUK) has submitted a final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station, aiming to extend its operations for an additional 50 years and support growing energy demands in the Carolinas.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is slated for a mid-September visit to Mexico to strengthen trade and bilateral relations, as both nations navigate complex and often strained ties with the United States under Donald Trump's protectionist trade policies.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are accompanying former President Donald Trump to his high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, with discussions expected to focus on a potential ceasefire deal for Ukraine.
Pharma Giants Vie for Dominance in Obesity Market
The highly lucrative GLP-1 obesity drug market is seeing intensified competition, with Eli Lilly (LLY) making a significant strategic move. The pharmaceutical giant has inked a US$1.3 billion deal with privately held Superluminal Medicines to discover and develop small-molecule drugs for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases using an AI-driven platform. This agreement grants Lilly exclusive rights to develop and commercialize drug candidates targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a class of proteins crucial for metabolic processes. Lilly's current blockbuster drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro, have been key revenue drivers, generating $14.7 billion in combined sales in the first half of 2025 and accounting for 52% of Lilly's total revenues. Following strong second-quarter results, Lilly raised its full-year sales guidance to $60-$62 billion from its prior expectation of $58-$61 billion for 2025.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk (NVO), a major competitor in the GLP-1 space, has undergone a significant leadership transition. Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen stepped down as CEO on August 7, 2025, after leading the company since 2017, a period marked by substantial growth driven by Ozempic and Wegovy. Maziar Mike Doustdar has been appointed as the new President and CEO. This change follows a 40.8% year-to-date decline in Novo Nordisk shares, underperforming the industry and the S&P 500. The company faces increasing competition from Eli Lilly and compounded GLP-1 alternatives, along with ongoing legal challenges, including 132 lawsuits against compounding pharmacies and securities lawsuits. Despite these challenges, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic still generated $7.7 billion in combined sales in Q1 2025, demonstrating the company's continued resilience in the market.
Duke Energy Seeks 50-Year Extension for Bad Creek Hydro Station
Duke Energy Corp (DUK) has taken a crucial step to ensure long-term energy reliability in the Carolinas by submitting its final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station. Located near Salem, South Carolina, this application seeks to extend the plant's operations for an additional 50 years beyond its current license expiration in July 2027. The Bad Creek facility, operational since 1991, is described as the largest "battery" on Duke Energy's system, playing a vital role in storing and delivering large quantities of emission-free energy. Recent upgrades to the four units at Bad Creek have increased its total capacity by 320 megawatts, bringing the station's total to 1,680 megawatts of carbon-free energy. This relicensing effort is crucial for Duke Energy to continue serving nearly 860,000 retail electric customers across South Carolina and supports the state's economic success and growth.
Carney's Mexico Visit Signals North American Realignments
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing for a mid-September visit to Mexico, aiming to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties between the two nations. This visit comes as both Canada and Mexico navigate a complex relationship with the United States, marked by Donald Trump's protectionist trade policies and tariff hikes. Carney is expected to meet with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss reinforcing supply chains and key infrastructure to boost bilateral trade. The visit follows earlier efforts by Canadian foreign and finance ministers to lay the groundwork for improved relations, signaling an "all-hands-on-deck moment" to reignite the bilateral relationship. Alberta's Premier Danielle Smith also recently visited Mexico to promote closer energy and agriculture ties, underscoring a broader Canadian strategy to find new markets and friendships amidst U.S. trade resistance.
Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska: Rubio and Witkoff Join Delegation
Former President Donald Trump has arrived in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed to be joining the U.S. delegation. The summit, the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump's second term began, is expected to primarily focus on a possible ceasefire deal for Ukraine. Trump has expressed his desire for a rapid ceasefire, stating he would be "very unhappy" if one is not achieved today. He also indicated a "possibility" of the United States offering Ukraine security guarantees, though "not in the form of NATO." Other key officials accompanying Trump include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The meeting's outcome is seen as potentially determining the fate of European security and the trajectory of the war in Ukraine.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.