Trending Tickers: $HIMS–$NVO Agreement, $TMC Permit Progress, $VRTX Positive Trial
This week, several stocks caught investors’ attention, driven by significant developments and market momentum. Here’s the breakdown of this week’s trending stocks:
Hims & Hers ($HIMS) and Novo Nordisk ($NVO) Settle Lawsuit
Hims & Hers announced it has reached an agreement with Novo Nordisk ($NVO) to offer FDA-approved semaglutide medicines through its telehealth platform in the United States.
According to Novo Nordisk, Hims & Hers customers will soon have access to Ozempic® and Wegovy® injections as well as the Wegovy® pill, the first oral GLP-1 treatment approved for weight loss. These medications will be available through Hims & Hers at the same self-pay prices offered by other telehealth platforms.
Under the agreement, Hims & Hers will stop advertising compounded GLP-1 products and transition existing patients to FDA-approved alternatives where clinically appropriate, according to the companies.
The partnership also resolves a recent legal dispute between the two companies. Novo Nordisk said it will dismiss its patent infringement lawsuit against Hims & Hers, which accused the telehealth company of promoting compounded versions of semaglutide that were not approved by regulators.
According to Novo Nordisk, expanding access through digital healthcare platforms is intended to help more patients obtain its approved treatments for obesity and diabetes.
Stock Price Reaction
$HIMS shares jumped about 41% following the announcement, while $NVO shares rose around 3%.
The Metals Company ($TMC) Moves Forward in U.S. Deep-Sea Mining Approval
The Metals Company ($TMC) said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determined that its consolidated application for deep-seabed mining is in substantial compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements.
According to the company, the application was submitted by its subsidiary TMC USA and covers both exploration and potential commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.
Polymetallic nodules are rock-like deposits found on the ocean floor that contain metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese, which are used in batteries, energy systems and other industrial applications.
According to TMC, the updated application covers an area of about 65,000 square kilometers, significantly larger than the roughly 25,000 square kilometers included in the company’s earlier commercial recovery application filed in 2025.
The company said the project area contains an estimated resource of about 619 million tonnes of wet nodules, with potential exploration upside of an additional 200 million tonnes.
NOAA’s determination means the application meets the initial regulatory requirements under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, allowing the permitting process to move forward to the next stages of review.
According to TMC, the consolidated application framework allows companies to combine exploration and commercial recovery reviews, potentially creating a more efficient regulatory timeline.
Stock Price Reaction
$TMC shares rose about 10% following the announcement.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals ($VRTX) Reports Positive Phase 3 Kidney Disease Trial Results
Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from an interim analysis of its Phase 3 RAINIER trial evaluating the experimental drug povetacicept in patients with IgA nephropathy, a serious kidney disease.
According to the company, the treatment significantly reduced protein in the urine, a key marker of kidney damage. Patients receiving povetacicept saw about a 52% reduction from baseline, compared with a much smaller change in the placebo group.
The study also showed improvements in additional measures of disease activity. Levels of a harmful immune protein linked to IgA nephropathy fell significantly, and more than 85% of treated patients saw blood in their urine disappear, compared with about 23% in the placebo group.
According to Vertex, the drug was generally safe and well tolerated, with most side effects reported as mild to moderate. No deaths or serious safety concerns related to the treatment were reported in the trial.
Vertex said it plans to complete its Biologics License Application submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of March, seeking potential accelerated approval for povetacicept.
If approved, the company plans to offer the treatment as a once-monthly injection that patients could administer at home.
Stock Price Reaction
$VRTX shares rose about 8% following the announcement.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell securities. The content is based on publicly available information and reflects the author’s opinions as of the publication date, which may change without notice. All investments carry inherent risks, including the potential loss of principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Forward-looking statements, including references to projected revenues, market trends, or business developments, are based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may differ due to various factors, including regulatory changes, economic conditions, competitive pressures, and unforeseen market fluctuations. Readers should conduct their own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. BBAE holds no position in the securities mentioned, nor are they compensated by the companies mentioned.
