Core Insights - Corxel Pharmaceuticals has raised $287 million in a Series D1 funding round to advance its obesity drug CX11 into further testing [8] - The financing reflects a trend among drugmakers and biotech investors in the U.S. and Europe to license drugs discovered in China, with successful acquisitions already seen in the market [3][4] - CX11, an oral GLP-1 therapy, is positioned as a differentiated treatment that could provide weight reduction comparable to injectable GLP-1 medications [6] Industry Trends - There is a growing interest in obesity treatments, with startups like Kailera Therapeutics and Verdiva Bio emerging around weight loss drugs developed in China [5] - The FDA's recent approval of an oral form of Wegovy indicates a strong market demand for oral obesity medications, with initial prescription numbers showing a fast start [7] - Corxel plans to conduct a global Phase 2 study for type 2 diabetes this year and is preparing for additional late-stage trials [8]

Group 1: Novo Nordisk and GLP-1 Pills - Novo Nordisk's shares increased by nearly 10% following FDA approval of the oral version of Wegovy, a GLP-1 weight loss drug, with a starting price of $149/month available in early January [2][3] - The approval gives Novo Nordisk a competitive edge over Eli Lilly, which is developing its own oral GLP-1 medication, orforglipron, expected to launch next year [3] Group 2: Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance - Warner Bros. Discovery is in a bidding war with Netflix for its HBO parent company, indicating a significant shift in the entertainment landscape [4] - Paramount Skydance, despite losing the bidding war, is making personal guarantees from Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who is willing to invest over $40 billion to reassure investors [5] - If Netflix fails to secure regulatory approval, Paramount Skydance could be positioned to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, making the situation critical to monitor [6]