FDA Promises Strong Action Against Grey Market Generic Weight Loss Drugs, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Stocks Rebound

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Shares of the Denmark-based global pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NASDAQ:NVO) rose over 7%, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pledged to take action against the large-scale marketing of unapproved generic weight loss pills. This helped the stock recover some of the losses from the previous two trading days. Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) also bounced back, rising over 2% after a nearly 8% drop the day before.

Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) fell more than 7%.

On Thursday, the U.S. telehealth company Hims & Hers Health launched a significantly cheaper $49 generic version of Wegovy, a weight loss drug approved by the FDA and produced by Novo Nordisk. This move triggered a decline in the stock prices of both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which have dominated the weight loss drug market.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary posted on social media platform X, stating, “The FDA will swiftly act against companies that are massively marketing illegal generic weight loss drugs, claiming their products are similar to FDA-approved ones.” He did not name any specific companies but added, “The FDA cannot verify the quality, safety, or efficacy of unapproved drugs.”

Wegovy Pill, the world’s first oral macromolecule drug—oral semaglutide for weight loss—was launched in the U.S. at the beginning of this year. After being released on January 5, it quickly became a star product in the local obesity market, with prescriptions soaring from 3,071 in the first four days to over 18,000 by the week of January 16. By the week of January 23, prescriptions had further increased to 26,109, showing strong momentum since its launch.

Resistance to injections and greater trust in oral medications is a common psychological tendency among patients with chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Adherence to treatment is a critical factor in achieving effective results.

Strong Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations for Amgen, Toyota, and Pfizer

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Amgen(AMGN) Surges Over 8% After Beating Q4 Expectations, Launches Phase 3 Trials for Type 2 Diabetes Drug

Amgen reported a 9% year-over-year increase in Q4 revenue to $9.87 billion, surpassing analysts’ average estimate of $9.47 billion. Net profit soared more than 112% to $1.33 billion, with adjusted earnings per share reaching $5.29, well above the forecasted $4.73. Looking ahead, Amgen expects its 2026 revenue to be between $37 billion and $38.4 billion, with adjusted earnings per share ranging from $21.6 to $23, compared to analysts’ estimates of $37.19 billion and $20.63 per share.

Additionally, Amgen is conducting six Phase 3 trials for its experimental drug MariTide, targeting obesity and related diseases such as heart disease and sleep apnea. The company also plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial for Type 2 diabetes patients later this year.

Toyota(TM) to Increase Hybrid Production by 30% by 2028, Shares Up Over 4%

Toyota plans to increase its production of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to approximately 6.7 million units by 2028, a 30% increase from its estimated 2026 production target of about 5 million units.

In terms of overall production, Toyota expects its global car output to reach around 11.3 million vehicles by 2028, a 10% increase from its 2026 forecast. This means that hybrid vehicles will account for nearly 60% of the company’s total production, becoming the core driver of its growth in both production and sales. Analysts suggest that this large-scale production expansion not only addresses increasingly stringent carbon emissions regulations but also seeks the best profit balance in the EV competition by leveraging its well-established technology moat.

Currently, Toyota has begun in-depth discussions with major suppliers to ensure that its supply chain for critical components and raw materials can keep pace with the planned production expansion. The company emphasized that these numbers are for reference only and are not part of its official production or sales plans.

Pfizer(PFE) Jumps Nearly 4% as Non-COVID Products Show Strong Growth

In its full-year 2025 performance, Pfizer’s non-COVID product portfolio demonstrated strong structural growth. Despite a significant drop in COVID-related revenues, the company successfully shifted its focus toward innovative treatments by continuously optimizing its product mix and increasing market share.

Cardiovascular and vaccine segments led the way in growth. The anticoagulant drug Eliquis generated $8 billion in revenue for the year, an 8% increase, solidifying its position as the company’s second-largest product. The growth was mainly driven by improved Medicare payment conditions in the U.S. and steady global demand.

The Prevnar vaccine series achieved $6.5 billion in revenue, a 1% increase, with particularly strong performance in international markets for adult indications. The heart disease treatment Vyndaqel family was a key performer, with revenues rising by 17% to $6.4 billion, primarily driven by increased diagnosis rates and improved payment conditions in the U.S. Despite facing some pressure from Medicare pricing in Q4, Vyndaqel still generated $1.7 billion in revenue for the quarter, a 9% year-over-year increase, maintaining strong growth momentum.