2 Pharma Stocks Pop on Strong Obesity Drug Trial Results

Core Insights - Positive drug trial results are driving investor interest in pharmaceutical stocks, particularly Corbus Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, due to advancements in their obesity drugs [1] Group 1: Corbus Pharmaceuticals - Corbus Pharmaceuticals reported favorable results from its Phase 1a study for the oral CRB-913 medication, which targets different pathways than GLP-1 drugs, showing a favorable safety profile and emerging weight loss evidence [2] - The stock price of Corbus was last seen up 2% at $10.46, recovering from a pullback after reaching an all-time high of $20.56 on October 20, and has increased by 62.8% over the last nine months [2] - Options trading for Corbus is notably high, with 43 times the intraday call volume, and the most popular contract being the December 19 call [4] Group 2: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's late-stage trial data for its retatrutide drug indicated significant weight loss and pain relief for participants with knee osteoarthritis [3] - The stock price of Eli Lilly was last seen up 3.2% at $1,025.28, rebounding after a decline from its all-time peak of $1,111.99 on November 26, and has gained over 33% this year [3] - Options trading for Eli Lilly is also robust, with double the normal amount of calls being traded, and the most popular contract being the weekly 12/12 1,020-strike call [4] Group 3: Options Market Insights - The current market conditions present an opportune time to invest in options for both Corbus and Eli Lilly, with Schaeffer's Volatility Indexes (SVI) indicating options are affordably priced at 94% for Corbus and 30% for Eli Lilly, ranking above 9% and 15% of annual readings, respectively [5]