Key Takeaways
- The U.S. economy saw a significant rebound in Q2 2025, with GDP growing at an annualized rate of 3.0%, exceeding expectations and recovering from a Q1 contraction.
- NewAmsterdam Pharma (NAMS) announced positive Phase 3 trial data for obicetrapib, showing significant reductions in Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, signaling a potential breakthrough in treatment.
- Meta (META) is making substantial progress in its pursuit of superintelligence, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating it is now achievable, and the company investing hundreds of billions into AI development.
- Moleculin Biotech (MBRX) secured a new European patent for its anti-cancer drug Annamycin, enhancing its drug pipeline value and market position.
- U.S. Steel (X) announced the appointment of three independent U.S. directors to its board, ensuring a majority of U.S. citizens on the board following its acquisition by Nippon Steel.
The U.S. economy demonstrated a robust recovery in the second quarter of 2025, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding at an annualized rate of 3.0%. This figure surpassed market expectations of a 2.6% increase and marked a strong rebound from the 0.5% contraction observed in the first quarter. The growth was largely attributed to a significant decline in imports and a solid increase in consumption.
In the pharmaceutical sector, NewAmsterdam Pharma (NAMS) reported groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 BROADWAY trial for obicetrapib. The drug, originally developed for cardiovascular disease, showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in plasma p-tau217, a key biomarker for Alzheimer's disease pathology. This development could position obicetrapib as a potential preventive strategy for Alzheimer's, particularly in high-risk ApoE4 carriers where p-tau217 levels decreased by 20.5% compared to placebo.
Meanwhile, Moleculin Biotech (MBRX) announced a significant win with the receipt of a Notice of Intent to Grant for a new European patent for its novel formulation, Preliposomal Annamycin Lyophilizate. This patent is expected to solidify the company's European Union exclusivity for Annamycin, a promising non-cardiotoxic anthracycline in its anti-cancer pipeline. The patent's base term will extend until 2040, with potential for further extension.
In the technology space, Meta (META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg affirmed that the development of superintelligence is now within reach, with the company committing hundreds of billions of dollars to AI projects and research. Meta has established the Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) to lead its AI efforts, led by Alexandr Wang, and is actively recruiting top AI talent. This aggressive investment underscores Meta's ambition to become a leader in next-generation AI.
In corporate governance news, U.S. Steel (X), following its acquisition by Nippon Steel, announced the appointment of three independent U.S. directors to its board. This strategic move ensures that four of the seven directors are U.S. citizens, aligning with commitments made in a national security agreement. The new independent directors include John M. Donovan, Robert J. Stevens, and Admiral Timothy J. Keating.
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.