Novo Nordisk shares have fallen so much this year that it’s almost as if the frenzy around weight-loss drugs that propelled the Danish pharmaceutical company’s meteoric rise never happened https://t.co/Yskfrm8BFL ...

Welcome back to Squawkbox. Five things to know ahead of the opening bell. The price for Warner Brothers Discovery, it could head higher.Bloomberg now reporting that both Netflix and Paramount Sky Dance have signaled they have the ability to raise their bids for the media giant. Separately, longtime media investor Mario Gabell telling Bloomberg he'll likely tender his clients. Warner Brothers Discovery Shares to Paramount in an effort to spark a bidding war for Warner.Meanwhile, computer memory maker Nvidia ...

Expansion Plans - Eli Lilly plans to announce four new facilities in the U S [1] - The site mentioned is the third of these four new facilities [1]

Pfizer has entered into an exclusive global collaboration and licensing deal with a unit of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical for an early-stage weight-loss drug https://t.co/7etdqabjPx ...

Core Insights - Wave Life Sciences has made a significant advancement in the weight loss drug sector, leading to a 146% increase in its stock price following the announcement of interim data from a phase 1 clinical trial of its WVE-007 drug [1][2]. Group 1: Clinical Trial Results - The phase 1 clinical trial of WVE-007 demonstrated a reduction in total body fat by 4.5% over three months, with no significant changes observed in the placebo group [2]. - The body fat reduction achieved by WVE-007 surpasses that of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved obesity drug Wegovy, at the same stage of development [4]. Group 2: Safety and Tolerability - The treatment was reported to be generally safe and well-tolerated, with the CEO highlighting that WVE-007 shows fat loss comparable to GLP-1 drugs without the associated muscle loss [4][5]. Group 3: Market Performance - Following the announcement, Wave Life Sciences' stock price surged to $18.52, reflecting a market capitalization of $1 billion and a trading volume of 147 million shares [6]. - The stock's performance indicates strong investor interest in the obesity treatment sector, which is known for generating excitement around investigational drugs [6].

Market Performance - The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange saw a rise today, with the Tel Aviv 35 Index increasing by 1.14% to 3,506.55 points and the Tel Aviv 125 Index rising by 0.70% to 3,535.70 points [1] - The BlueTech Global Index, however, fell by 0.16% to 600.50 points, and the All Bond corporate bond index decreased by 0.01% to 418.12 points [1] - Total turnover in equities reached NIS 3.77 billion, while bonds totaled NIS 3.48 billion [1] Currency Exchange Rates - The representative shekel-dollar rate increased by 0.248% to NIS 3.237/$, and the shekel-euro rate rose by 0.345% to NIS 3.780/€ [2] Notable Stock Movements - Camtek experienced the largest increase on the Tel Aviv 35 Index, rising by 3.08%, followed by Tower Semiconductor at 2.45%, Elbit Systems at 2.55%, and Teva Pharmaceutical at 2.97% [2] - Bank Hapoalim led the market with a rise of 2.29% and the highest trading turnover, while Bank Leumi increased by 2.14%, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank by 0.91%, and Israel Discount Bank by 1.43% [3] - YH Dimri Construction & Development saw the largest decline on the Tel Aviv 35 Index, falling by 2.99%, with Clal Insurance down by 2.08% and Enlight Renewable Energy down by 1.70% [3]

Core Insights - AlphaTON Capital Corp has exited the SEC's "baby shelf rules" and filed a $420.69 million shelf registration statement to finance its expansion in AI and high-performance computing infrastructure supporting Telegram's Cocoon AI network [1][3][4] - The company aims to enhance its role as a critical infrastructure provider for decentralized AI computing while acquiring revenue-generating businesses within the Telegram ecosystem [3][4] Strategic Areas - **Telegram Distribution**: The company plans to establish partnerships with leading Telegram distribution applications across various sectors such as fintech, gaming, health, and sports to create strategic revenue streams [5] - **Mergers and Acquisitions**: AlphaTON has identified several high-potential acquisition targets within the Telegram ecosystem that are currently generating revenue, focusing on payments, content distribution, and blockchain-enabled services, which are expected to provide immediate cash flow and expand operational reach [5] - **Infrastructure Expansion**: The company intends to strategically deploy capital to scale its GPU infrastructure in support of Telegram's Cocoon AI network, building on existing partnerships and prior deployments of Nvidia B200 GPUs [10]

Core Points - Ionis Pharmaceuticals has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. FDA for zilganersen, aimed at treating Alexander disease, a rare and often fatal neurological condition [1][2] - The company plans to submit a new drug application (NDA) in Q1 2026 [1][3] Company Overview - Ionis Pharmaceuticals is recognized for its innovative approach in developing treatments for serious diseases, including neurological conditions [3][9] - The company has a strong pipeline, including marketed medicines and investigational therapies, positioning it for revenue growth and value creation [3][9] Zilganersen Study Details - The pivotal study for zilganersen involved 54 participants aged 1.5 to 53 years across 13 sites in eight countries, primarily focusing on children due to the early onset of Alexander disease [4][5] - The study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in gait speed, with a mean difference of 33.3% (p=0.0412) at week 61 for the 50 mg dose compared to control [2][5] Alexander Disease (AxD) Insights - Alexander disease affects approximately 1 in 1 to 3 million people globally and is characterized by progressive neurological deterioration, leading to loss of mobility and independence [7] - There are currently no approved disease-modifying treatments for Alexander disease, highlighting the significance of zilganersen's potential [7][6]

Core Insights - Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) is recognized for its innovative treatments and competitive strategies, with a price target set at $1,286 by Tim Anderson from National Bank, indicating a potential increase of 21.56% from the current price of $1,057.89 [1][6] Price Adjustments and Market Strategy - Eli Lilly has reduced the cash prices of its weight-loss drug, Zepbound, to enhance accessibility and affordability, with the 2.5 mg dose now priced at $299 (down from $349) and the 5 mg dose at $399 (down from $499) [2][4][6] - The price cuts for Zepbound follow agreements with US President Donald Trump aimed at improving access to GLP-1 drugs, aligning with the company's strategy to compete in the growing obesity treatment market [4] Stock Performance - Despite the price reductions, LLY shares have decreased by 0.8% to $1,066.96, although the stock has seen a 34% year-over-year increase, indicating strong long-term performance [3][6] - The stock has fluctuated between $1,055 and $1,084.15 on the current day, with a market capitalization of approximately $950.29 billion [5]

Group 1: Stock Market Performance - UK and US stocks have started December with declines, with the FTSE 100 down 0.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.5% to 47,457.90 [3][28] - The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.8% to 23,186.74, reflecting investor caution amid a sell-off in cryptocurrencies [28][40] - The overall market sentiment is influenced by speculation regarding interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [40][41] Group 2: Economic Developments - The chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) resigned following a report labeling a Budget leak as the "worst failure" in its history [13][14] - The UK manufacturing sector has shown growth for the first time in 14 months, with the S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI rising to 50.2 in November [54][55] - Mortgage approvals fell by 600 to 65,000 in October, attributed to concerns over potential tax rises in the Budget [61] Group 3: Corporate Actions and Plans - BP is reportedly shelving plans for a major hydrogen project in Teesside, impacting net zero plans [2] - Zipcar has proposed to close its UK operations by the end of the year, pending employee consultations [19] - Harbour Energy announced plans to cut 100 jobs in the North Sea due to the Chancellor's refusal to adjust the windfall tax [35] Group 4: Cryptocurrency Market - The cryptocurrency market has seen significant declines, with Bitcoin dropping over 7% to $84,966 and Ether plunging 29% [2][40] - The overall market sentiment remains cautious, with traders noting a lack of inflows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds [78] Group 5: Energy Sector - Diesel prices for UK drivers could rise if military action is taken in Venezuela, which is crucial for heavy sour crude oil used in diesel production [9][11] - Oil prices have been affected by OPEC+'s decision to maintain production levels, with Brent crude rising by 1.9% to over $63 per barrel [80][84]