Eli Lilly Ramps Up Weight-Loss Pill Production as Nvidia Expands 6G and AI Alliances

Trading on Wall Street moved higher late Tuesday after multiple corporate announcements and a report suggesting potential progress on U.S.–China trade tensions. The upbeat sentiment followed news that presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may discuss halving a 20 percent tariff on chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, a step that would trim the average levy on most Chinese goods to about 45 percent.

Drugmaker prepares for next year’s launch

Eli Lilly said it has already produced “billions of doses” of its experimental oral weight-management drug orforglipron ahead of a planned commercial rollout in 2025. Chief Executive David Ricks outlined the production milestone Monday during an appearance at the Economic Club of Chicago, indicating the company aims to avoid the supply shortages that initially affected its injectable therapies Mounjaro and Zepbound.

The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company has not yet filed for U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance but intends to submit the application before year-end. Orforglipron, a non-peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is positioned as a once-daily pill for weight loss and type 2 diabetes management. Ricks described the treatment as a potential “GLP-1 for all,” underscoring Lilly’s expectation of broad demand.

The current manufacturing build-up will not affect the firm’s third-quarter results, scheduled for release Thursday before the opening bell. Even so, the early production run signals confidence in market uptake once regulators authorize the drug.

Nvidia accelerates telecom and AI initiatives

At its GTC conference in Washington, D.C., Nvidia announced a series of partnerships aimed at extending its artificial intelligence and networking footprint. The chipmaker unveiled a $1 billion strategic investment in Nokia to jointly develop sixth-generation (6G) wireless technology. In a separate move, it will collaborate with T-Mobile to incorporate AI-powered radio-access-network (AI-RAN) capabilities into future 6G deployments.

Further expanding its data-center reach, Nvidia disclosed a project with Oracle to build what it says will be the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest AI supercomputer dedicated to scientific research. Another alliance with cybersecurity vendor CrowdStrike will focus on creating AI-driven security agents designed to detect and respond to digital threats in real time.

Chief Executive Jensen Huang told attendees the company’s next-generation Grace Blackwell accelerator platform remains on schedule, with a volume ramp expected over the next five quarters. Investors responded positively: Nvidia shares advanced roughly 3 percent in afternoon trading, touching a record intraday high.

Imagem: Internet

Broad market context

Equity markets also weighed a busy corporate earnings calendar. Reports expected after Tuesday’s closing bell include Visa, Enphase Energy, ONEOK, Bloom Energy, Booking Holdings, Seagate Technology, Mondelez International and Caesars Entertainment. Before the opening Wednesday, Boeing, Verizon, GE Healthcare, CVS Health, Caterpillar, Otis, Fiserv, Centene, Etsy, Brinker International and American Electric Power are set to publish results.

The Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to issue its policy decision Wednesday afternoon. Consensus forecasts call for a 25-basis-point reduction in the federal-funds target range to 3.75 percent–4.00 percent. The outcome will be closely watched for clues regarding the central bank’s strategy to balance inflation control with economic growth. Additional background on Fed policy actions can be found on the Federal Reserve’s official website.

Trade-related optimism

Elsewhere, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is exploring a reduction in certain China-origin tariffs as part of talks with Beijing’s leadership. Lower duties on chemical precursors to fentanyl could serve as a confidence-building measure ahead of a broader dialogue on trade and public health. Although no agreement has been finalized, the prospect of relief contributed to afternoon gains across major stock indices.

Analysts noted that easing trade frictions, together with strong demand for advanced semiconductors and novel obesity treatments, is supporting risk appetite. Market participants will soon shift focus to quarterly earnings trends and Wednesday’s interest-rate decision for further direction.

Crédito da imagem: CNBC