Eli Lilly (LLY) : retatrutide

Eli Lilly's next-generation obesity drug, retatrutide (a triple agonist targeting GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors), has shown record-breaking weight loss results in Phase 3 trials.

Key Results from Recent Trials

• TRIUMPH-4 (obesity + knee osteoarthritis, Dec 2025): In a 68-week study, the highest dose (12 mg) led to an average 28.7% body weight loss (about 71.2 lbs / 32 kg from a baseline of ~248 lbs) among those who stayed on treatment. Including dropouts, it was around 23.7%. It also significantly reduced knee pain (up to 75.8% improvement on WOMAC scores).
• TRIUMPH-1 (general obesity/overweight with comorbidities, May 2026): Highest dose achieved ~28.3% weight loss over 80 weeks. Over 45% of participants lost 30%+ of body weight, and many reached a BMI under 30. This puts it in bariatric surgery territory for many patients.
• Diabetes trial (TRANSCEND-T2D-1, Mar 2026): Strong A1C reductions (1.7–2.0%) plus up to ~16.8% weight loss (36.6 lbs) at 40 weeks, with weight loss still ongoing.

These results outperform current blockbusters like Zepbound (tirzepatide, dual GIP/GLP-1, typically ~15–22% weight loss) and Wegovy (semaglutide, ~15–20%). Retatrutide's addition of glucagon receptor agonism appears to boost fat burning and energy expenditure.Side Effects and TolerabilityGastrointestinal issues (nausea, etc.) are common, similar to other incretins, with rates up to ~42%. Discontinuation rates were notably higher than in earlier trials—some participants stopped due to perceived excessive weight loss or skin-related side effects. This is a key watchpoint for real-world use.Context and OutlookRetatrutide is part of Lilly's deep obesity pipeline (alongside the oral GLP-1 orforglipron and others like eloralintide). Regulatory filings are expected later in 2026, with potential approval/launch in 2027.These "eye-popping" results highlight rapid progress in multi-agonist drugs, but questions remain around long-term safety, muscle preservation, maintenance after stopping, and broad accessibility/cost. 

Ebola-related shares

Ebola is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious. It is infectious, because an infinitesimally small amount can cause illness. Laboratory experiments on nonhuman primates suggest that even a single virus may be enough to trigger a fatal infection.

Ebola can be considered moderately contagious, because the virus is not transmitted through the air. The most contagious diseases, such as measles or influenza, virus particles are airborne.

Companies that are part of the growing effort to find an effective treatment for the deadly Ebola virus:

Pharmaceuticals

• Ibio (IBIO) - may become part of the government's effort to ramp up production of ZMapp. The experimental drug was developed by privately-held Mapp Biophamaceuticals and used to save the lives of two American health workers who were infected but recovered. 
• Mapp Biopharmaceutical (private): Mapp’s therapy for Ebola, known as ZMapp, is getting a lot of attention for its ability to treat the disease, even if the company is getting no mileage in the stock market. ZMapp has been was used to treat two U.S. health workers who were infected but recovered. Three Liberians were treated with ZMapp, one of whom died. An elderly Spanish priest died after using the drug, but a British nurse working in Sierra Leone recovered after receiving ZMapp.

Others

• Lakeland Industries (LAKE) - hazmat-suit maker
• Alpha Pro Tech (APT) -  face mask maker

Note

• Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR) was working on the TKM-Ebola drug.  Development of TKM-Ebola was terminated in mid June 2015 during a Phase II trial, for lack of efficacy.  The next month, Tekmira changed its name to Arbutus Biopharma.

 

 

Current ebolavirus outbreak (May 2026)A Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak (a different strain from Zaire) in DRC and Uganda prompted a rapid WHO PHEIC declaration. Existing Zaire-specific vaccines (Merck, J&J) and treatments (Regeneron, etc.) do not directly protect against or treat Bundibugyo. No approved countermeasures exist for this strain yet, though experimental options (e.g., potential monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir from Gilead/GILD, or candidates from Moderna/MRNA) are under evaluation.This limits immediate revenue upside for existing products but could drive broader R&D funding, stockpiling, and preparedness contracts for big pharma and biotechs involved in filovirus research.
Previous Ebola outbreaks

Merck & Co. (MRK) is the primary publicly traded company with a direct, approved Ebola vaccine (Ervebo/rVSV-ZEBOV), targeted against Zaire ebolavirus.Ervebo is WHO-prequalified, FDA-approved (including for children), and part of a global stockpile managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) for outbreak response. Merck has ongoing partnerships, such as a recent $30 million CEPI collaboration (announced Jan 2026) to improve manufacturing, lower costs, and enhance accessibility for low- and middle-income countries.Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has a two-dose regimen (Zabdeno/Mvabea, Ad26.ZEBOV + MVA-BN-Filo) also approved/prequalified for Zaire ebolavirus, developed with Bavarian Nordic. It is less ideal for rapid outbreak response due to the dosing schedule but supports broader preparedness.Regeneron (REGN) has Inmazeb (REGN-EB3), an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for Zaire ebolavirus, with stockpiling deals and donations for at-risk countries. Ridgeback Biotherapeutics has Ebanga (mAb114), another approved treatment (not publicly traded).

Weight loss drug news

• May 12, 26: Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) announced late-phase trial results showing that Foundayo (orforglipron) and lower-dose Zepbound effectively maintain weight loss after patients switch from higher-dose injectables. The company’s ATTAIN-MAINTAIN study indicated that patients transitioning from Wegovy or Zepbound to oral Foundayo maintained most of their initial weight loss after one year.  Similarly, the SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN trial showed that reducing Zepbound to 5 mg or continuing at the maximum tolerated dose will result in durable long-term weight maintenance. These findings were published in The Lancet and Nature Medicine and point to new flexible options for chronic obesity management while minimizing weight regain during the transition from one treatment to another.
• Novo Nordisk -- Eli Lilly's biggest rival -- has already requested approval for its next-gen therapy, CagriSema, which could launch by the end of the year, pending approval. Novo Nordisk is also running phase 3 studies for a candidate called Amycretin.
• Viking Therapeutics'(VKTX) leading weight-loss candidate, VK2735, is a GLP-1 medicine being developed in both oral and subcutaneous formulations. Last year, the company completed phase 2 studies for the oral version. Oral VK2735 led to a mean weight loss of up to 12.2% at the highest dose in 13 weeks. The company also stated that no weight-loss plateau was observed. This is a phenomenal performance over such a short period.
• May 1, 26: GoodRx (GDRX) partners with Novo Nordisk to offer self-pay access to new oral Ozempic pill starting at $149 per month.
• May 1, 26:  FDA proposes removing semaglutide, liraglutide from 503B bulk compounding list, potentially curbing copycat GLP-1 versions. Proposal could limit lower-cost compounded GLP-1 copies and support demand for Novo Nordisk's branded semaglutide and liraglutide.
• May 1, 26:  Novo Nordisk A/S announces that starting Monday, May 4, Ozempic tablets 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg will be available for adults with type 2 diabetes in the US.  Ozempic pill is the only oral GLP-1 medicine approved for both primary and secondary cardiovascular risk reduction of heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk for these events, including those with known heart disease.
• Feb 23, 26: Eli Lilly launched a new form of its blockbuster obesity drug, Zepbound, that offers a month’s worth of doses in a single pen.   Cash-paying patients can get the multi-dose device, called KwikPen, on the company’s direct-to-consumer website, LillyDirect. Prices start at $299 per month for the lowest dose level.   The KwikPen is already used for other drugs, such as Lilly’s popular diabetes medication, Mounjaro. 
• Dec 22, 2025:  The FDA has approved the first-ever GLP-1 pill from Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk said the starting dose of 1.5 milligrams will be available in early January in pharmacies and via select telehealth providers with savings offers for $149 per month.  
• That’s the same price that cash-paying patients can access the starting dose of the pill on President Donald Trump’s direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx, under a deal Novo Nordisk struck with his administration last month. Trump’s site also launches in January.  The approval gives Novo Nordisk a head start over chief rival Eli Lilly, which is racing to launch its own obesity pill.
• Dec 18, 2025:  Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk — the dominant players in obesity drug development — each submitted a new weight-loss drug to the FDA for approval today.

Eli Lilly’s (LLY) drug is called orforglipron. It is a pill that’s taken daily and has shown 12.4% average weight loss. The drugmaker also shared new data that demonstrate orforglipron helped patients maintain their weight loss for a year compared to placebo, and after switching from Zepbound, its weight-loss injection, or Wegovy, Novo’s competing weight-loss injection.

Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) next-gen medication is called CagriSema. It’s a once-weekly shot that combines a long-acting amylin analogue and Wegovy. Clinical trials found that patients taking CagriSema lose an average of 20.4% of their weight after 68 weeks, compared to 3.0% on placebo.

CagriSema would be the first combo GLP-1 if it’s approved, while orforglipron would be the first GLP-1 pill approved for weight loss. Oral GLP-1s like Lilly’s Trulicity and Novo’s Rybelsus have been on the market for about 10 years, though they are only approved to treat people with Type 2 diabetes.

Though Novo was the first to bring a GLP-1 for obesity to market, Lilly is viewed as the market leader, both in sales performance and strategic dealmaking for its products. Its stock is up about 34% for the year, while Novo’s shares have tumbled 45%.

• Dec 11, 2025: Eli Lilly (LLY): experimental "triple G" delivered the best weight loss thus far in a clinical study.  Retatrutide works by mimicking a trio of hormones — GLP-1, GIPR and glucagon — to curb hunger signals and improve blood sugar levels. In a Phase 3 study, patients with obesity and osteoarthritis of the knee, but not type 2 diabetes, lost up to 28.7% of their body weight after 68 weeks.

The results top the 22.5% reduction seen with Lilly's tirzepatide in a 72-week study. Tirzepatide, which sells under the brands Mounjaro and Zepbound for diabetes and weight loss, mimics GLP-1 and GIPR.

There are likely three future categories for weight-loss drugs: low weight loss, mid weight loss and "super high weight loss." Retatrutide likely fits into the last group. Tirzepatide "rules supreme" in the mid weight-loss category, with oral drugs likely to fill the low weight-loss space.

In additional secondary endpoints, retatrutide reduced known markers of cardiovascular risk, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and at the highest dose lowered systolic blood pressure by 14.0 mmHg, using the efficacy estimand.4 In an additional post-hoc analysis, 14.1% of patients on retatrutide 9 mg and 12.0% patients on retatrutide 12 mg were completely free of knee pain at 68 weeks compared to 4.2% on placebo, based on the observed efficacy estimand data.

Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs)

Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), also known as range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) or sometimes range-extender vehicles, are a type of electrified vehicle that combines the core characteristics of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with a small onboard generator to dramatically increase total driving range.Key Characteristics of an EREV

• Primary propulsion — The vehicle is driven exclusively by one or more electric motors using electricity from the battery pack. There is no mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine (usually a small gasoline engine) and the wheels.
• Range extender — A small internal combustion engine (ICE) acts purely as a generator (auxiliary power unit or APU). When the main battery runs low (typically down to 5–20% state of charge), the engine automatically starts to generate electricity, which either charges the battery or directly powers the electric motor(s).
• Plug-in capability — Like a BEV or PHEV, it can be plugged in to charge the battery from the grid (home charger, public station, etc.), allowing regular electric-only driving for daily use.
• Driving experience — It feels and drives like a pure electric vehicle most of the time — smooth, quiet, instant torque, one-pedal driving, etc. — with the engine only running when needed to extend range (and often at an efficient constant speed).

How EREVs Compare to Other Vehicle Types

Type	Full Name	Drives wheels with electric motor?	Engine directly drives wheels?	Plug-in charging?	Typical electric-only range	Total range (with fuel)	Primary use case
BEV	Battery Electric Vehicle	Yes	No	Yes	200–400+ miles	Same as electric range	Full electric, no range anxiety solution needed
EREV	Extended Range Electric Vehicle	Yes	No	Yes	50–150+ miles (often larger battery)	400–800+ miles	Electric daily driving + long trips without fast-charging reliance
PHEV	Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle	Yes (often)	Yes (in most designs)	Yes	20–80 miles	300–600 miles	Short electric commutes, hybrid flexibility
HEV	(Regular) Hybrid Electric Vehicle	Sometimes	Yes	No	Very short (~1–3 miles)	400–600 miles	Fuel efficiency without plugging in

 

Li Auto L8 Pro EREV SUV 2025  ($45,560)

Advantages of EREVs

• Eliminates most "range anxiety" for people who occasionally drive long distances or lack reliable fast-charging access.
• Allows mostly/fully electric driving for daily commutes (cheaper, smoother, zero local emissions).
• The engine runs less often and more efficiently than in a traditional hybrid or PHEV.
• Many recent designs (especially in China and emerging U.S. models) achieve very high total ranges (500–900+ miles).

Disadvantages

• Added weight, complexity, and cost from the engine + fuel system (compared to pure BEV).
• Still requires gasoline (though much less than a conventional car).
• Slightly less efficient on long highway trips compared to some parallel hybrids (engine not optimized for direct wheel drive).

 Jeep Grand Wagoneer range-extender (REEV)  2026  ($100,000)

Notable / Upcoming Examples 

• Historical: Chevrolet Volt (early version), BMW i3 REx, Fisker Karma.
• Recent / emerging: Ram 1500 Ramcharger, Mazda MX-30 R-EV, various Chinese models (Li Auto, BYD, etc.), upcoming Scout Motors trucks/SUVs, Jeep/Grand Wagoneer variants, some Hyundai and Stellantis models.

In short: An EREV is basically a battery electric vehicle that happens to carry a small gasoline generator for peace of mind on longer journeys — it's one of the strongest "bridge" technologies between full hybrids and pure EVs, especially popular where charging infrastructure is still developing.