U.S.-based pharmaceutical major Eli Lilly and Co. $LLY has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Verve Therapeutics Inc. $VERV, a clinical-stage biotech innovator focused on gene-editing therapies aimed at reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), often labeled as “bad” cholesterol. The deal, valued at up to $1.3 billion, will see $1 billion paid upfront, with an additional $300 million contingent on clinical milestones. The acquisition underscores Eli Lilly’s intent to broaden its presence in the fast-growing cardiometabolic therapeutics sector, complementing its existing pipeline in diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular health.

The Trump Organization, helmed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, is expanding its commercial portfolio with the launch of a branded smartphone. The device, known as the T1, will be marketed as a “sleek, gold smartphone” and is priced at $499 USD. According to the announcement, it will be “proudly designed and built in the United States”, a positioning that reflects both political symbolism and a strategic attempt to differentiate it from market-dominating devices like Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max $AAPL, which retails for $1,199 USD and is primarily manufactured in China.

Global oil demand is set to continue growing until the end of this decade, driven by resilient consumption in the United States and a slower-than-expected shift to electric vehicles (EVs), according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The agency reaffirmed that worldwide demand is projected to peak by 2029, although China, the world’s top oil importer, will likely reach its demand ceiling by 2027 due to faster EV adoption.