Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that AbbVie (ABBV.US) has had its MSCI ESG rating upgraded from A to AA as of August 27, 2025 [1] Group 2 - The upgrade in ESG rating reflects an improvement in AbbVie's environmental, social, and governance practices [1] - The MSCI ESG rating is a widely recognized benchmark for assessing the sustainability and ethical impact of companies [1] - This rating change may enhance AbbVie's attractiveness to socially responsible investors [1]

Group 1 - The early optimism in the second half of 2025 diminished towards the end of July, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment [1] - The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat ETF (NOBL) experienced a decline by the end of July, reflecting broader market trends [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial metrics or performance data related to the companies mentioned, focusing instead on general market observations [2][3]

Group 1 - AbbVie has experienced a significant recovery in August with a month-over-month gain of 11.4% after five months of price weakness [1] - Year-to-date, AbbVie has risen by 16.6%, a notable increase from the 3.8% year-to-date increase observed earlier [1] Group 2 - The article highlights the expertise of a macroeconomist with over 20 years of experience in investment management, stock broking, and investment banking [1] - The investing group, Green Growth Giants, focuses on opportunities in the green economy, indicating a thematic investment approach [1]

Core Insights - AbbVie has announced a deal to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' lead pipeline candidate, bretisilocin, which is being developed for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) [1][8] Group 1: Deal Details - AbbVie will pay up to $1.2 billion for the acquisition, which includes an upfront payment and development milestones [6][8] - Gilgamesh will spin off its other drug programs into a new company, Gilgamesh Pharma, while AbbVie retains full control of bretisilocin [6][7] Group 2: Clinical Data - Bretisilocin is currently in a phase II study for moderate-to-severe MDD, showing rapid and durable antidepressant effects [2][8] - In the phase II study, bretisilocin led to a statistically significant reduction in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score, with patients improving by an average of 21.6 points compared to 12.1 points for the comparator at Day 14 [2] Group 3: Market Context - AbbVie has been actively acquiring companies to strengthen its early-stage neuroscience pipeline, with recent deals including the acquisition of Aliada and Cerevel Therapeutics [9][10] - AbbVie's neuroscience portfolio has seen significant growth, with sales increasing by 20.3% to around $5 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by products like Botox Therapeutic and Vraylar [11]

Core Insights - The global top-selling drugs for the first half of 2025 have been released, with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide leading the sales at 166.83 billion USD, followed by Merck's pembrolizumab and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide [1][3][4] Group 1: Top-Selling Drugs - Semaglutide from Novo Nordisk achieved sales of 166.83 billion USD, maintaining its position as the "king of drugs" [1][3] - Pembrolizumab from Merck recorded sales of 151.61 billion USD, ranking second [3] - Tirzepatide from Eli Lilly reached sales of 147.34 billion USD, securing the third position [3] Group 2: Sales Growth and Market Dynamics - Semaglutide's sales growth is driven by its three products: Ozempic (95.46 billion USD), Rybelsus (16.79 billion USD), and Wegovy (54.58 billion USD), with Wegovy showing a remarkable growth of 78% [5][6] - Tirzepatide has rapidly gained market share, with Mounjaro's sales skyrocketing from 4.83 billion USD in 2022 to an expected 115.4 billion USD in 2024 [7] - The competition between semaglutide and tirzepatide is intensifying, with both drugs exceeding 140 billion USD in sales for the first half of 2025 [7] Group 3: Market Challenges - The entry of biosimilars has impacted the sales of established drugs, with Janssen's ustekinumab dropping out of the top 10 due to a significant decline in sales [8] - Ustekinumab's sales fell by 38.6% in the first half of 2025, reaching only 32.78 billion USD [8] - Despite challenges, Johnson & Johnson's daratumumab saw a 21.7% increase in sales, reaching 67.76 billion USD, indicating strong demand in the multiple myeloma market [9][10]

Group 1 - AbbVie has agreed to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' experimental antidepressant drug for up to $1.2 billion, focusing on the candidate drug bretisilocin for treating major depressive disorder [1][2] - The acquisition emphasizes AbbVie's commitment to expanding psychiatric care through investment in novel treatment methods, particularly for patients unresponsive to existing therapies [1] - Gilgamesh will spin off its other research projects into a new entity, Gilgamesh Pharma Inc., while maintaining the licensing option from their previous collaboration [2] Group 2 - There is growing support for psychedelic drugs in treating major depressive disorder, with over 20 million adults in the U.S. affected, and approximately 30% of them not responding to current treatments [2] - Gilgamesh is developing neuroplastogens, a new generation of psychedelic drugs that act quickly without causing hallucinations, with positive results reported for bretisilocin in major depressive disorder studies [2] - Historical caution from large pharmaceutical companies regarding psychedelic drugs due to regulatory concerns makes this transaction particularly significant [2]

Deals & Acquisitions - AbbVie to acquire experimental depression treatment from Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals Inc for up to $12 亿 (billion) [1] Industry Trends - Drug industry shows growing interest in next-generation psychedelic compounds [1]

Group 1 - AbbVie Inc. has shown resilience in the healthcare sector, with its stock advancing approximately 18% year-to-date [1] - The company has fully recovered from a previous downturn referred to as "Liberation Day" [1]

Core Viewpoint - AbbVie has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' lead investigational candidate, bretisilocin, which is in clinical development for treating moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder (MDD) [1][6]. Company Overview - AbbVie is focused on discovering and delivering innovative medicines across key therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, and aims to enhance psychiatric care through novel treatment approaches [5][9]. - Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech company developing new chemical entities for psychiatric diseases, emphasizing rapid-acting and durable therapies [11]. Product Development - Bretisilocin is a next-generation psychedelic compound designed to provide a shorter duration of psychoactive experience while maintaining extended therapeutic benefits [3][10]. - Recent Phase 2a study results for bretisilocin showed a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms, with a -21.6 point change in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at Day 14 for a 10mg dose compared to a -12.1 point change for a low dose comparator [4][10]. Financial Terms - The acquisition deal is valued at up to $1.2 billion, which includes an upfront payment and development milestones [6]. - Gilgamesh will create a new entity, Gilgamesh Pharma Inc., to manage its remaining programs and employees as part of the transaction [6][7]. Strategic Importance - The acquisition reflects AbbVie's commitment to advancing innovative treatments in psychiatry, addressing the significant need for effective solutions in this challenging medical field [5][6]. - The collaboration between AbbVie and Gilgamesh builds on their previous agreement to develop next-generation therapies for psychiatric disorders [7].

Group 1 - The Dividend Kings experienced a modest gain of 0.64% in July, underperforming compared to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which gained 2.30% [1]