Core Insights - Amgen's research chief expressed strong confidence in the company's experimental obesity drug MariTide, indicating positive expectations for its efficacy in weight maintenance [1] Company Summary - Amgen is preparing to unveil results from a mid-stage trial extension for MariTide, aimed at demonstrating the drug's effectiveness in helping individuals maintain weight loss [1]

44TH ANNUAL J.P. MORGAN HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE Provided January 12, 2026, as part of an oral presentation and is qualified by such, contains forward-looking statements, actual results may vary materially; Amgen disclaims any duty to update. 2 We Have a Broad and Deep Portfolio Across Four Therapeutic Areas ROBERT A. BRADWAY, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer January 12, 2026 Safe Harbor Statement This presentation contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs o ...

Group 1: Tariffs and Pharmaceutical Sector - President Trump has threatened pharmaceutical tariffs of up to 250% and 500% on India over Russian oil purchases, indicating a shift in the administration's approach to tariffs as a tool for industry reshaping rather than negotiation [2] - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has secured an exemption from certain tariffs by committing to lower drug prices, joining 14 other major pharmaceutical companies in the "TrumpRx" program, which aims to align US drug prices with European counterparts [3] - Moody's Analytics reported a "collapse in pharmaceutical imports" as companies stockpiled goods in anticipation of tariffs, demonstrating the market's tendency to react preemptively to presidential announcements [3] Group 2: Energy Sector and Venezuela - Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump declared a national emergency and announced new sanctions, leading to a surge in US energy stocks, with Chevron (CVX) rising 5% and Exxon Mobil (XOM) increasing by 2.2% [4] - However, by January 10, 2026, analysts expressed skepticism about the viability of Venezuelan oil investments, citing a lack of legal pathways and the need for significant infrastructure rebuilding [5] - Venezuelan government bonds saw a rally, with a bond maturing in 2027 increasing from 31.5p to over 40p on the dollar, indicating market interest despite the geopolitical instability [5] Group 3: Credit Card Industry - President Trump proposed a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, aiming to save Americans "tens of billions of dollars," which has raised concerns among banking executives [6][7] - The banking industry, including the Bank Policy Institute and the American Bankers Association, warned that such a cap could lead consumers to less regulated alternatives and reduce credit availability [8] - Major credit card companies like American Express (AXP) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) experienced stock declines of -1.92% and -0.18% respectively, reflecting market apprehension about the proposed cap [8] Group 4: Defense Sector - President Trump's executive order threatening to restrict stock buybacks and dividends for defense contractors initially caused a drop in defense stocks, but a subsequent announcement of a $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027 led to a rally in the sector [9][10] - Northrop Grumman (NOC) saw a premarket increase of 6.8%, while Lockheed Martin (LMT) rose 6.7%, indicating strong market response to the budget announcement [10] - The iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF gained approximately 55% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 17% increase, highlighting robust demand in the defense sector [10] Group 5: Market Reactions and Trends - The US stock market exhibited polarized performance on January 8, 2026, with the DOW gaining 60.94 points (+0.12%) while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite fell [13] - By January 9, 2026, the indices largely recovered, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.6% and the DOW adding 0.5%, indicating a rotation out of high-growth technology into heavy industry [14] - Analysts forecast a 10% increase for the S&P 500 in the remainder of 2026, although they acknowledge that presidential tariffs pose a significant source of uncertainty for market performance [15]

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 270.03 points (0.55%) to reach 49266.11, while Dow Futures rose by 144.00 points (0.29%) to 49637.00, indicating positive movement in the blue-chip index amidst a mixed broader market [1] - The S&P 500 remained essentially flat, and the Nasdaq Composite lagged due to declines in tech stocks [1] Economic Data Impact - The primary narrative driving the market was the release of US employment data, which showed fewer jobs added than expected but a lower unemployment rate [2] - Anticipation of a possible Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's tariffs contributed to market uncertainty [2] Sector Rotation - There was a notable rotation from high-flying tech stocks, particularly in the AI sector, into more defensive and value-oriented segments such as industrials and financials, driven by profit-taking and concerns over elevated valuations [2] Company Performance - Among the Dow's constituents, Home Depot (HD) led the gainers with a surge of 3.85%, followed by Nike (NKE) with a 3.02% increase, and Chevron (CVX) up 2.98% due to shifts in the oil market [3] - Other strong performers included Sherwin-Williams (SHW) (+2.90%) and Honeywell (HON) (+2.87%) [3] - Conversely, Amgen (AMGN) was the biggest decliner, falling by 3.26%, with Nvidia (NVDA) down 2.16% and Salesforce (CRM) down 2.06%, reflecting a broader pullback in technology and AI-related shares [3]

CVS Health - CVS Health experienced a rebound in 2025, with improved financial results and raised guidance for revenue, operating income, and earnings per share for 2026 [3][4] - The company is addressing challenges such as rising costs and shrinking operating margins, particularly in its Medicare Advantage business, by significantly rolling back this segment to focus on profitable growth [4][5] - CVS Health is currently trading at 11.2 times forward earnings, which is below the healthcare sector average of 18.4, indicating reasonable valuation [5] - The company has a vast network of pharmacies and diversified healthcare operations, which provide significant advantages as healthcare spending increases [6] - CVS Health has adapted to competition, notably from Amazon, by offering free and fast delivery services for prescription medications, making it a strong long-term investment [7] - The outlook for CVS Health in 2026 and beyond appears promising, especially for dividend-seeking investors [8] Amgen - Amgen is developing new drug products to address a recent patent cliff, positioning itself for future growth [8]

Core Viewpoint - Amgen will present at the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, highlighting its ongoing commitment to innovation and investor engagement [1]. Group 1: Conference Details - The presentation will take place on January 12, 2026, at 3:45 p.m. PT, led by Robert A. Bradway, the chairman and CEO of Amgen [1]. - The webcast will be available for media, investors, and the general public, and will be archived for at least 90 days post-event [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Amgen is a leader in biotechnology, focusing on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering innovative medicines for serious diseases [3]. - The company has a robust pipeline aimed at treating cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases, and rare diseases [3]. Group 3: Recognition and Market Position - In 2024, Amgen received accolades such as being named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes [4]. - Amgen is part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq-100 Index, reflecting its significant market capitalization and innovation [4].

Core Viewpoint - Amgen Inc. has acquired Dark Blue Therapeutics for up to $840 million, focusing on precision oncology medicines, particularly for leukemia treatments [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition values Dark Blue Therapeutics at up to $840 million, which includes both upfront payments and future milestones [1]. - Dark Blue's lead candidate, DBT 3757, is in IND-enabling studies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) [2]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - Amgen plans to integrate Dark Blue Therapeutics into its existing research organization, enhancing its early oncology discovery efforts [3]. - The acquisition complements Amgen's research in targeted protein degradation and leukemia therapeutics, aligning with its strategy to invest in novel therapeutic targets [4]. Group 3: Market Reaction - Following the acquisition announcement, Amgen's shares rose by 2.89% to $339.71, nearing its 52-week high of $346.38 [5].

Core Insights - Amgen has acquired Dark Blue Therapeutics for approximately $840 million, enhancing its oncology pipeline [1][8] - The acquisition adds a preclinical small-molecule degrader targeting MLLT1/3 proteins associated with specific types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [2][8] - Amgen currently does not market any therapies for AML but has Blincyto approved for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is developing bispecific T-cell engagers for AML [3][8] Amgen's Oncology Pipeline - Amgen has a diverse oncology portfolio, including drugs like Blincyto, Imdelltra, Lumakras, Vectibix, Kyprolis, Nplate, and Xgeva [6] - Key candidates in its late-stage oncology pipeline include bemarituzumab for gastric cancer and xaluritamig for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer [6] - Ongoing phase III studies are evaluating Imdelltra in small cell lung cancer and biosimilars for Opdivo, Keytruda, and Ocrevus [6] Competitive Landscape - Major competitors in the oncology space include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Bristol-Myers [9] - Pfizer's oncology sales account for about 28% of total revenues, with a 7% increase in the first nine months of 2025 [10] - AstraZeneca's oncology segment comprises around 43% of total revenues, with a 16% increase in sales during the same period [11] - Merck's Keytruda, a key oncology drug, generated $23.3 billion in sales in the first nine months of 2025, up 8% year over year [12] - Bristol-Myers' Opdivo accounts for approximately 20% of its total revenues, with sales rising 8% to $7.54 billion [13] - Johnson & Johnson's oncology sales represent around 27% of total revenues, with a 20.6% operational increase in the first nine months of 2025 [14]

Core Insights - The private markets are experiencing a shift towards larger firms, with a focus on differentiation and scale for survival [2] - Private equity is expected to see a 20% increase in transaction volume in 2026 compared to 2025, driven by favorable market conditions [3] - Venture capital is consolidating around mega-funds and niche specialists, leaving generalist firms at risk [4] Private Equity - In 2026, private equity firms will prioritize capital return over capital growth, leading to increased M&A and IPO activity [3] - The decline in interest rates is expected to enhance liquidity and market activity, with a more stable environment for long-term value creation [3] - Sectors with defensive demand and operational upside will attract more capital, with returns driven by execution rather than multiple expansion [3] Venture Capital - Major venture firms are expected to launch mutual funds to gather more assets, capitalizing on regulatory changes [4] - The "generalist middle" is collapsing, with capital consolidating around larger funds and niche specialists [4] - LPs will have increased negotiating power due to a smaller number of active allocators, impacting fundraising for emerging managers [5] Startups - Many AI startups are facing challenges due to market saturation and price wars, with few expected to succeed [6] - Founders are advised to focus on operational discipline and fundamentals as the market resets [6] - A significant increase in startup formation and product releases is anticipated, driven by easier access to technology [6] Recent Deals - xAI raised $20 billion in Series E funding, indicating strong investor interest in AI [8] - Hg is acquiring OneStream for approximately $6.4 billion, highlighting ongoing consolidation in the private equity space [10] - PicPay filed for an IPO on Nasdaq, reporting $1.7 billion in revenue for the year ending September 30 [16] Funds - BV Investment Partners raised $2.5 billion for its seventh fund, focusing on business services and IT sectors [17]

Group 1 - UBS upgraded its rating for Amgen (AMGN.US) from "Neutral" to "Buy," raising the target price from $317 to $380, citing two late-stage products, MariTide and olpasiran, as key growth drivers until 2030 [1] - The target price represents nearly a 15% upside from Amgen's closing price on Tuesday [1] - MariTide (AMG 133) is a GLP-1R agonist/GIPR antagonist for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, showing an average weight loss of 20% in obese/overweight patients without type 2 diabetes after 52 weeks, with no plateau in weight loss [1] Group 2 - Olpasiran (AMG 890) is an investigational siRNA therapy targeting the mRNA of the Lp(a) gene to reduce Lp(a) production, a genetically determined independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease [1] - Patients receiving 75mg or higher doses of olpasiran showed a reduction of Lp(a) by 95% or more at week 36 compared to the placebo group, with over 98% of patients achieving Lp(a) levels of 125nmol/L or lower [1] - UBS analysts noted that MariTide's potential for monthly dosing could enhance patient compliance, despite concerns about tolerability in trial results [2]