Channing Tatum in hospital for ‘Separated shoulder’
Channing Tatum has shared a health update with fans after undergoing surgery to repair a separated shoulder, describing the procedure as a tough but necessary challenge.
The actor revealed the news on Instagram earlier this week, posting a black-and-white photo from his hospital bed as he prepared to go into surgery.
Wearing a gown and hospital cap, Tatum kept his message straightforward and characteristically strong.
“Just another day. Another challenge. This one is gonna be hard. But whatever. Let’s get it,” he wrote.
Support quickly poured in, including from his girlfriend, Australian model Inka Williams, who offered encouragement in the comments, writing, “Big bad wolf, we got disss.”
Tatum later gave followers a clearer picture of what he was dealing with through his Instagram Stories.
In one snap, he shared an X-ray of his upper arm and shoulder, showing two visibly broken bones.
He simply captioned it, “Separated shoulder.” A second, post-surgery X-ray showed the injury after doctors had stabilised it with medical hardware.
“Screwed shoulder. Yay,” he wrote alongside the snap, pointing out the large screw now holding the bones together.
Channing Tatum/Instagram
While Tatum did not explain how the injury happened, the update adds to a growing list of physical setbacks for the actor, who is known for performing many of his own stunts.
Back in September, he spoke to Variety about getting hurt while filming Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for release in December 2026.
At the time, the outlet noted that he arrived at the interview with a limp and relied on his stunt double for several demanding scenes.
Reflecting on that earlier injury, Tatum told the publication that filming was still intense, including a major fight sequence with Robert Downey Jr, who plays Doctor Doom.
“We had tons more shooting,” he said, referring to the physically demanding schedule.
He also spoke candidly about the mental toll of injuries and recovery.
“It’s not about the pain I feel in the moment,” Tatum said. “It’s knowing I can’t take this back. And now I know what the next six months of my life will be like … I just hate getting old. In my mind, I’m literally still 30 years old — 26, if I’m honest.”
Despite the seriousness of his latest surgery, the actor struck an upbeat tone overall, suggesting the operation was successful and that he is ready to take on recovery head-on.
Fans and fellow actors echoed that optimism in the comments, with messages of encouragement flooding in as Tatum begins what is expected to be a challenging period of healing.
People hold flags outside the US Supreme Court on December 4, 2024 in Washington, DC, during oral argument on whether states can ban certain gender transition medical treatments for young people.
Roberto Schmidt | AFP | Getty Images
New research from the LGBTQ+ group Human Rights Campaign showed a drastic drop in Fortune 500 companies willing to publicly disclose their diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
The HRC’s 2026 Corporate Equality Index saw a 65% drop in participation this year, falling from 377 Fortune 500 companies in 2025 to just 131 companies in 2026. HRC noted many of the companies that dropped out hold federal contracts.
“Our research shows the strength and the strain of this moment on LGBTQ+ workers, consumers and the companies that count on us,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement.
Of the 1,450 companies that participated, 534 earned a score of 100, representing nearly 6 million U.S. employees, according to HRC.
HRC’s index launched in 2002 and rates companies based on their social responsibility and equity in the workplace.
Over the past two years, the anti-DEI movement, championed by the White House, began to reframe the index, making it a conservative target.
The Corporate Equality Index has increasingly seen more companies exiting its orbit, beginning with Tractor Supply and including big names like Walmart, Ford and Lowe’s. Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer and grocer, said it had conversations with conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has publicly advocated for a shift away from DEI, before the company pulled out.
It was a significant change from years prior, when companies like Ford and Walmart issued public statements supporting DEI and touting their achievements in their workplaces.
As marijuana’s potential health benefits are under debate, new research has found that THC could have a powerful and positive effect on the brain.
Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) at San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, recently discovered that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana) could prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease – but only when paired with an anti-inflammatory drug called celecoxib.
Celecoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor that is commonly prescribed for arthritis and pain.
While THC has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, it’s also been linked to negative effects on the brain, particularly in learning and memory, according to a UT Health press release.
Combining THC with an anti-inflammatory drug, however, could provide the same benefits with fewer negative side effects.
THC could be powerful against cognitive decline when combined with an anti-inflammatory, a new study suggests.(iStock)
The study, which was published in the journal Aging and Disease, paired low-dose THC extract with celecoxib, which was administered to mice daily for 30 days.
The mice received the treatments before the development of memory symptoms to measure the impact on preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s.
The results showed improved cognition, learning and memory, as well as decreased markers of neuroinflammation and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain pathology, the release stated.
Although THC alone had the same results, it also increased inflammatory signals, while the combination dosage did not.
The THC and celecoxib combo improved cognition, learning and memory, while also decreasing markers of neuroinflammation and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain pathology.(iStock)
“What really mattered was behavior. If cognition is not improved, then the treatment doesn’t matter. And that’s where the combination clearly worked better than THC alone,” noted lead study author Chu Chen, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology.
Years of research led Chen to connect the dots on how THC can manipulate the brain and why it’s difficult to use safely for neurological conditions, according to UT Health.
“When THC is given, it unexpectedly increases COX-2 in the brain. That increase is closely associated with learning and memory impairment,” Chen said.
Both THC and celecoxib are FDA-approved for use in humans, which could provide a “real advantage” in moving along to clinical trials, according to UT Health.
“What really mattered was behavior. If cognition is not improved, then the treatment doesn’t matter.”
Future studies will investigate whether the drug combination can slow disease progression or reverse deficits after symptoms have appeared.
“This work has taken many years. But now we’re at a point where basic neuroscience discoveries are pointing toward something that could realistically move into the clinic,” Chen said.
Dr. Paul Saphier, a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, called this research an “exciting breakthrough with a huge potential impact for patients and their families.”
“We know that the buildup of the plaques related to Alzheimer’s [beta-amyloid plaques] are the result of chronic inflammation.”(iStock)
“Neurocognitive deterioration has been linked to conditions that cause inflammation within the brain — prior brain bleeds, strokes, tumors and infections,” he told Fox News Digital. “We also know that the buildup of the plaques related to Alzheimer’s [beta-amyloid plaques] are the result of chronic inflammation.”
“So, it makes sense that this combination therapy [might] help limit the production of this amyloid and thereby reduce the progression of the disease.”
Saphier said the drugs’ FDA approval status is “encouraging,” as it may “ultimately ease the availability for patients, if the trial proves successful.”
“I look forward to the results of this trial, as well as any future trials that look at limiting the effects of chronic inflammation within the central nervous system.”
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
Having reoriented their roster around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks prioritized cap flexibility 12 months after former GM Nico Harrison argued that Davis’ two-way stardom made him a better bet to lead a Dallas championship run than Doncic. This trade sheds the remaining $120 million on Davis’ contract and brings in some late first-round picks.
Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards continue building back up with another blockbuster trade for a veteran star. They’ll pair Davis with fellow newcomer Trae Young as well as a group of young talent headlined by 2024 first-round picks Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr.
How might the new-look Wizards come together in 2026-27? And what’s next for the Mavericks as they try to support Flagg with younger talent? Let’s break down the tentacles of this unexpected move.
This is a grade strictly for the Mavericks trading away Davis based on his current market, not one that encompasses the decision to acquire him in the first place. (I already graded that trade an F at the time.)
It’s unlikely any team would have valued Davis as much as Dallas evidently did a year ago, and the series of injuries he’s dealt with since — including a hand sprain that has sidelined him for the last month — has only decreased his appeal. Instead of viewing him as the two-way force he was at best, teams surely now see Davis as an unreliable contributor with one of the NBA’s seven largest salaries.
In an era where apron restrictions have made teams more cognizant of managing their cap efficiently than ever before, that made Davis difficult to move for significant draft compensation or equivalent young talent. The Mavericks probably faced a choice between deals like this that prioritized shedding salary, acquiring players with similarly large contracts and waiting to try to move Davis until this summer.
Of those choices, I’m totally fine with making this deal now, which was the best way for Dallas to avoid paying a huge luxury-tax bill for a lottery team. The Mavericks saved so much 2025-26 salary in this trade that the Wizards, remarkably, are now closer to the tax.
There was one school of thought that Dallas could have just held on to Davis and focused on winning in 2026-27, when Kyrie Irving will be back from his ACL tear and Flagg looks capable of playing a key role on a contending team. The Mavericks likely won’t have their 2027 first-round pick, which they keep only if it lands in the top two, so from that standpoint, there was no specific downside to trying to win as many games as possible.
At the same time, that path felt too much like repeating the mistakes teams have often made trying to build up too fast around their young stars. Trying to peak when Flagg is age 20 doesn’t make nearly as much sense as trying to accumulate players on his timeline to replace the draft picks Dallas is already out.
Granted, there won’t be any premium picks from this deal. The Mavericks are getting what will likely be the No. 30 pick in this year’s NBA draft — although the Detroit Pistons may push it down to No. 29 — and a 2030 pick that can’t possibly be any higher than No. 21 based on the protections.
Having more bites at the apple is still a positive for Dallas: It doesn’t control its first-round pick between 2027 and 2030, having traded away two of those picks and swapped the other two with likely contenders. The Mavericks now have up to three incoming first-rounders from other teams, including the lone one they got from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Doncic trade.
There may be more to come, depending how committed Dallas is to tearing things down. Role players Max Christie, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington are on reasonable contracts that would return pick compensation. So too might Irving once the Mavericks are ready to cross that bridge. Of those players, Irving is the least likely to be part of the roster when Flagg is coming into his own toward the end of this decade.
The cap flexibility Dallas created by cutting up to $67 million in 2026-27 salary — depending on whether Russell picks up his player option — could also be put to use accumulating draft picks. The Mavericks would need to trade more players under contract to create cap space this summer but should be able to structure this deal to generate a trade exception worth more than $20 million, the difference between the salaries of Davis and Middleton.
For now, it’s important for Dallas to maximize its own 2026 first-round pick, which would be seventh entering the lottery if the season ended today. The Mavericks have plenty of competition for that spot, however, with the Milwaukee Bucks also likely to pull the plug on their season and the Memphis Grizzlies trading away star Jaren Jackson Jr. All three teams are currently sitting at 19 wins, albeit with Dallas last by virtue of two extra losses.
The Mavericks can both accomplish that goal and get some clarity on Johnson’s future by giving him an extended look the rest of the season. Johnson, picked No. 23 in the 2024 first round, has been traded twice in as many deadlines and played just 853 minutes total in his NBA career to date. He has shown promise in recent extended outings, totaling 31 points on 11-of-21 shooting and eight assists (albeit with seven turnovers) in his last two games for the Wizards.
Washington Wizards: C
So, what is Washington now after trades for Young and Davis in the past month?
Acquiring Davis with an existing injury fits more readily into the Wizards’ need to finish with a bottom-four record, ensuring they’ll keep a first-round pick that goes to the New York Knicks if it lands outside the top eight. Washington is currently tied for fourth in the lottery standings but will likely trade spots with the New Orleans Pelicans, who have an identical 13 wins and no incentive to lose games for draft positioning.
With Davis likely to sit out the rest of this season, the Wizards will show up for training camp with a different style to integrate. They’ve spent nearly all of this season playing four-out basketball around center Alex Sarr, who’s played just 7.4 minutes as a power forward according to my analysis of lineup data from NBA Advanced Stats.
We did see Sarr next to a big man at times during his rookie campaign, when he started four games alongside Jonas Valanciunas, totaling 138 minutes at the 4 spot. Whether Davis or Sarr is technically considered the center in Washington’s starting five doesn’t matter as much as how the team fits the two together.
Defensively, they should be a potent pair, one well-equipped to hide Young’s shortcomings on that end. Sarr has made dramatic strides as a rim protector in his second NBA season, ranking just outside the league’s top 10 in opponent accuracy on shots inside five feet as a primary defender, per GeniusIQ tracking on NBA Advanced Stats. Davis is just ahead of him. The only team with two players in this group was … Dallas, with Davis and Daniel Gafford. (Somewhere, Harrison shed a single tear thinking of this stat.)
I’ve got more questions about how Davis and Sarr will work together on offense. Largely an outside-in player as a rookie, when he shot 39% from the field, Sarr has improved his efficiency in year two by working closer to the basket. His average shot distance has dropped from more than 14 feet to less than 10, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
If Davis serves as the primary screen setter for Young pick-and-rolls, that puts Sarr back in the position of spacing the floor for those plays. He’s improved to 33% from 3-point range after hitting 31% as a rookie, but defenses would surely rather see Sarr bombing away from 3 than finishing in the paint.
From a bigger-picture standpoint, the fear is that the Wizards are taking their rebuild out of the oven before it’s fully baked. Adding Davis and Young will create urgency to be competitive next season, particularly if both of them land the new contracts they’re seeking. (Young can be an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines a $49 million player option. Davis will be looking to extend ahead of his $62.8 million player option in 2027-28.)
Sarr and George look like building blocks, while Carrington and 2025 lottery pick Tre Johnson have flashed potential. Still, Washington doesn’t have any prospect on the level of Flagg. Sarr, at 22nd, was the only Wizards player ranked in ESPN’s top 25 under 25 rankings in December.
Perhaps the Wizards can ride youth and depth to a balanced lineup good enough to compete in the East. More likely, they need one of their young stars to break through or to land a top-four pick in the 2026 lottery. Pending that outcome, I probably would have been more patient after adding Young and waited to make a move of this magnitude.
NEW DELHI: Air India Express will invest $70 million (Rs 633 crore) on product upgrade and standardisation as the LCC is going to reposition itself between a low cost and a full service carrier.Sources say the $70 million programme is to upgrade its legacy fleet and standardise the 50 white tails (made for some other airline but inducted by AI Express) B737 MAX.While H1 FY26 was tough, the airline expects a profit in H2 of this fiscal. However, FY 26 is likely to be in the red for AI Express.
Christophe Dubi, the IOC executive director for the Olympic Games, added: “We make a point to receive those petitions, and we have to recognise climate is a challenge for all of us.
“What we have to do as an organisation is to be at the forefront of sustainability, and our principles are very clear.”
One area the IOC is aiming to make the Olympics more sustainable is having Games take place over a wider area with more pre-existing facilities, and Coventry said Milan-Cortina is an acid test for whether this is a viable future.
Milan-Cortina takes place in three hubs spread across northern Italy – in Milan, Cortina and Livigno – with only two newly built sporting facilities: the Santagiulia ice hockey arena and Cortina Sliding Centre.
The next two Winter Olympics – French Alps 2030 and Utah 2034 – will also have sports spread more widely, while the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane is will have venues across Queensland.
“We are really experiencing a spread out Games here for the first time – we are going to learn a lot,” Coventry said.
“We have taken this decision for sustainability reasons, climate and not having to have new venues. We are seeing there is an impact on National Olympic Committees because of the spreadness [sic], also for broadcast and media, making it harder to get around.
“What is really cool is that you get to see iconic venues in beautiful places – but now we have to weigh this up, the balance between a spread games for sustainability reasons but not shifting complexity and sustainability to different areas.”
While the action got underway on Wednesday with the start of the curling events, the 2026 Winter Olympics will officially start with the opening ceremony on Friday.
Coventry said she hoped all nations would be treated with respect by spectators, including the USA team amid criticism from Italian authorities about the presence of ICE agents in Milan.
“I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as a chance to be respectful,” she said.
“For me, when we went to the Olympic village that is the best reminder of how the Games should be. I hope the opening ceremony will do that.”
A popular food influencer with over two million TikTok followers has claimed that she was drugged and then kidnapped at a Hollywood premiere party four years ago.
Meredith Hayden, the social media chef behind Wishbone Kitchen, addressed her mental health in a video response to a now-deleted TikTok criticizing her for speaking openly about travel anxiety ahead of a birthday trip to Japan.
“The reason why I was crying and anxious about flying across the globe is because four years ago, I was roofied at a Hollywood premiere party in a very luxurious setting where I thought I was safe and I thought I could trust the people around me,” Hayden, 30, said in the video posted Tuesday.
Being “roofied” refers to being drugged unknowingly with a date-rape drug like Rohypnol, which typically causes symptoms like drowsiness and memory gaps.
Hayden said that at the party, she tried to go home because she “started to feel weird,” but then someone “pushed me into their car and kidnapped me for, like, a few hours.”
Meredith Hayden, the chef behind Wishbone Kitchen, shared in a TikTok that she was drugged and kidnapped at a Hollywood premiere party four years ago (Getty)
She added, “And I’m laughing because humor is the way I cope.”
The chef went on to say that she never spoke about the incident online because it happened as she was gaining a following on TikTok, and she did not want to be known as the “roofie kidnap girl.”
She also said she did not report it to the police because she did not know anyone at the party and knew that there was no security camera footage at the event. “This is something I know because the invite to the party said, ‘Don’t worry, the cameras will be off, so we can all really let loose,’” she said.
“I put my big girl pants on, and I shoved the feelings down for as long as I could. So, yeah, I still get anxious leaving my house. And I probably will forever,” she said.
Hayden did not immediately return The Independent’s request for further comment.
The popular food influencer rose to viral fame in early 2022 with her “Day in the Life” TikTok vlogs documenting her work as a private chef for a fashion designer in the Hamptons. She quickly built a loyal following by sharing daily content and recipes, and now counts nearly four million followers across Instagram and TikTok. Last year, she released The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook, which spent 12 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.
Recently, Hayden has kept her followers up to date with her 30th birthday trip to Tokyo. She said in her new video that although she was excited for the vacation, she still felt anxious about visiting the crowded city because after her alleged experience at the party, she was diagnosed with “PTSD, anxiety, depression, and a pinch of agoraphobia, where I’m afraid to go into crowded spaces,” she said.
“So, yes, I was staying in very nice hotels. It was my 30th birthday, and that was my present to myself,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t have anxiety about your situation, about being in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and you know nobody except for the person you’re traveling with.”
Russia warns US ‘winter is coming’ after New START treaty expires
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which limited the nuclear arms race between the United States (U.S.) and Russia, expired on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
Taking to X, the Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev shared a snapshot from the renowned Netflix series Game of Thrones with the words “Winter is coming” written on it.
He captioned his post, “That’s it. For the first time since 1972, Russia (the former USSR) and the US have no treaty limiting strategic nuclear forces. SALT 1, SALT 2, START I, START II, SORT, New START – all in the past.”
The treaty capped deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 for each country and experts warn that treaty’s expiration marks the end of 50 years of efforts of trying to contain the potential arms race between two of the world’s greatest powers.
Russia had earlier criticised the U.S. for not responding to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to keep the nuclear arsenal and warheads in check for another 12 months.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, “Essentially, our ideas are being deliberately ignored. This (U.S.) approach appears mistaken and regrettable.”
The treaty’s non-renewal, along with the absence of new arms control negotiations, mean that both Russia and the U.S. are now free to increase their missile stockpiles and deploy strategic warheads, which will in turn result in increased geopolitical instability.
Investigators in the disappearance of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, haven’t identified a suspect or person of interest in the Arizona case, which is being investigated as a crime, authorities said Wednesday.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department posted the update to social media as the search continues for Nancy Guthrie, 84, who was reported missing Sunday.
“Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie,” the sheriff’s department said in Wednesday’s statement.
Authorities believe Guthrie was taken from her Tucson, Arizona, home over the weekend. A little bit of blood found inside the home was being tested, a law enforcement source familiar with the case told CBS News.
“Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family,” the sheriff’s department said in its statement Wednesday. “While we appreciate the public’s concern, the sharing of unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and does not assist the investigation.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Tuesday that evidence collected from the home hadn’t yet pointed toward a suspect. He also said it wasn’t clear how many people took Guthrie. “It could be one, it could’ve been more, I don’t know,” he said.
Guthrie’s family reported the disappearance to authorities Sunday after looking for her at her home when they were told that Guthrie missed church that morning.
Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie on the “Today” show June 15, 2023.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Nanos told CBS News on Tuesday that a ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news station following Guthrie’s disappearance.
The note, which the station received Monday and agreed not to report on, contained specific details about the home and what Guthrie was wearing that night, Nanos said, although he would not confirm the accuracy of that information or the legitimacy of the note.
Nanos did not specify which station the note was sent to, but CBS affiliate KOLD-TV reported Tuesday it had received an email that “appears to be one of the alleged ransom notes,” which it forwarded to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators have analyzed the note and are taking it seriously, Nanos said.
Nanos told the New York Times on Tuesday that Guthrie’s other daughter, Annie Guthrie, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, had dinner together Saturday night. The couple live near Nancy Guthrie, and Cioni took her home afterward, making sure that she got inside OK before he left, Nanos told the Times. Earlier this week, Nanos told Us Weekly that Annie Guthrie was the last known person to see her mother before the disappearance.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks to the media on February 3, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. He was answering questions about the search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie.
Jan Sonnenmair / Getty Images
Nanos has dismissed the possibility that Nancy Guthrie, who lives alone, may have wandered away from her home because he said she doesn’t have any cognitive issues and her mobility is limited.
Nancy Guthrie has three children in total: Annie Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie and son Charles Guthrie.
Investigators hadn’t determined whether Nancy Guthrie was targeted or if the abduction was random, Nanos said Tuesday.
As investigators sort through hundreds of leads, Nanos has said there’s additional urgency to the search effort because Guthrie needs daily medication. The FBI is working with the sheriff’s department and providing support, an official said Tuesday.
A White House official told CBS News that President Trump spoke with Savannah Guthrie in a phone call Wednesday. The official didn’t provide details about the call.
The split in guidance – despite similar headwinds – underscores the strength of Lilly’s position in the obesity and diabetes drug market, underpinned by its more effective injections and early foray into direct-to-consumer sales, among other factors. While Novo Nordisk effectively made the drugs mainstream, Lilly has since taken a clear edge in market share — and the forecasts show it will likely only extend its advantage this year.
“The difference in sales momentum and market share trend was visible throughout 2025, but the dichotomy between the two companies’ prospects was accentuated within this 24-hour period in which Novo guided below consensus and Lilly guided above consensus expectations,” Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger told CNBC on Wednesday.
“That really solidified an investor’s mind that Lilly is going to be the dominant player in obesity going forward,” he added.
In an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday, Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said 20 million to 25 million patients are currently taking both companies’ medicines. But he said the total addressable market of patients in the obesity space is “gigantic.”
Diverging outlooks
On Wednesday, Lilly forecasted 2026 sales of $80 billion to $83 billion, surpassing the $77.62 billion that analysts were expecting, according to LSEG.
The midpoint of that outlook translates to sales growing by 25% this year.
In contrast, Novo warned on Tuesday that it sees sales and profit declining by 5% to 13% this year, as prices fall in the U.S. and exclusivity expires for its blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs in China, Brazil and Canada.
(L/R) Maziar Mike Doustdar, CEO of Novo Nordisk, and David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, listen as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office during an event about weight-loss drugs at the White House in Washington, DC on November 6, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images
Lilly similarly pointed to a “global pricing decline in the low- to mid- teens [percentages] this year.” That comes after the landmark “most favored nation” deals both companies struck with President Donald Trump in November to slash obesity and diabetes drug costs, along with their recent efforts to further reduce direct-to-consumer prices for their treatments.
The agreements with Trump are expected to take a bite out of both companies’ sales, but eventually increase volumes of prescriptions for their drugs. Still, Lilly is bullish about other factors that will help offset that pricing pressure.
That includes continued worldwide demand for its obesity drug Zepbound and diabetes counterpart Mounjaro and the expected launch of its GLP-1 pill for obesity in the second quarter, pending U.S. approval. Lilly also pointed to government Medicare coverage of obesity treatments starting for the first time by at least July, one of the winning features of the drug pricing deals with Trump.
Lilly’s Ricks told CNBC that coverage will open up access to 40 million new Medicare beneficiaries, “and that could be quite expansive to volume.”
Overall, Risinger called Lilly’s guidance “very encouraging” and said the “price per volume trade-off is playing out well” for the company.
He said tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro, is “superior” in its effectiveness and tolerability compared to semaglutide, the ingredient in Novo’s obesity and diabetes drugs. That was proven in a head-to-head clinical trial conducted by Lilly in 2024, and prescription trends show that the company’s drugs are preferred among prescribers.
“I think that’s what is driving Lilly’s market share gain” relative to Novo, Risinger said.
Another factor that sets Lilly and Novo apart is patent exclusivity. While Novo said expiring patents in some international markets pose a challenge, Lilly’s Ricks said tirzepatide should be protected into “the back half of the 2030s” in major markets.
Risinger noted that Lilly is still working to drive global uptake for tirzepatide, which won U.S. approval for obesity in 2023.
All eyes on pills
A pharmacist displays a box of Wegovy pills at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, Jan. 15, 2026.
George Frey | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Novo Nordisk is first to market with a GLP-1 pill for obesity, and it already hit 50,000 weekly prescriptions in just under three weeks of its launch. But investors are watching to see how that shifts once Lilly’s pill rolls out to patients later this year.
In an interview with CNBC’s “Mad Money,” Novo CEO Mike Doustdar said he’s confident about the company’s ability to compete with Lilly.
“Clearly we have the most efficacious weight reduction pill that there is and I’m very optimistic and bullish on when they come with their pill and we have to battle this out,” Doustdar said.
He’s referring to clinical trial data suggesting that Novo’s Wegovy pill promotes comparable weight loss to its injectable counterpart, which is around 15%. Meanwhile, Lilly’s pill appears to be slightly less effective than that, based on separate study data.
Risinger said the launch of Novo’s pill has benefited from the fact that the company is leveraging the Wegovy brand name, which is recognizable by many patients, and immediately launched direct-to-consumer advertising for the product in early January.
But he said Lilly could capitalize on its pill’s convenience advantage.
Orforglipron is a small-molecule drug that is absorbed more easily in the body and doesn’t require dietary restrictions like Novo Nordisk’s pill, which is a peptide medication. Patients are supposed to drink no more than four ounces of water with the Wegovy pill and must wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else each day.
Novo contends that those requirements won’t hinder uptake, but Risinger said it could help Lilly’s pill eventually generate greater sales globally.
