Core Insights - Merck & Co. (MRK) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) are prominent pharmaceutical companies with diverse portfolios and global reach [1][2] - MRK has a strong oncology franchise, particularly with its blockbuster drug Keytruda, while BMY focuses on transformational drugs across various therapeutic areas [1][2] Merck (MRK) Overview - MRK has over six blockbuster drugs, with Keytruda being the primary revenue driver, contributing significantly to top-line growth [3][4] - Keytruda's sales increased approximately 7% in the first half of 2025, benefiting from its approval for various oncology indications and strong uptake in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer [4][10] - The company is expanding its pipeline, with over 1,600 trials for Keytruda and plans to launch around 20 new vaccines and drugs in the coming years [5][7] - MRK's Animal Health business is also a key growth contributor, showing above-market growth [5] - A new optimization initiative aims for $3 billion in annual cost savings by the end of 2027, although Keytruda's loss of exclusivity in 2028 poses a risk to future revenue [8][10] - Declining sales of Gardasil and lower demand in key markets like China and Japan are challenges for MRK [9][11] Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) Overview - BMY's Growth Portfolio includes drugs like Opdivo, Reblozyl, and Camzyos, which have stabilized revenue amid generic competition [12][16] - Opdivo's sales are driven by strong launches in specific cancer indications, with expectations for mid-to-high single-digit growth in 2025 [13][14] - A collaboration with BioNTech enhances BMY's pipeline, focusing on bispecific antibodies for solid tumors [15] - Despite newer drugs boosting sales, BMY faces significant headwinds from generic competition affecting legacy drugs [17] - BMY's restructuring program aims for $2 billion in annual cost savings by the end of 2027, but the company has a high debt-to-capital ratio of 73.8% [18] Financial Estimates and Performance - MRK's 2025 sales are expected to increase by 1.21%, with EPS improving by 16.73%, while BMY's sales are projected to decrease by 2.06%, but EPS is expected to rise significantly due to low prior-year figures [19][20] - Both companies have seen upward revisions in EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 [21] - Year-to-date, MRK and BMY have underperformed the large-cap pharma industry, with losses of 19.7% and 20.5%, respectively [24] - MRK trades at 8.24X forward earnings, while BMY trades at 7.02X, both below the industry average of 14.67X [26] Dividend and Investment Considerations - Both MRK and BMY offer attractive dividend yields, with BMY at 5.61% and MRK at 4% [27] - Current rankings for both companies are Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), making the choice between them complex [28] - MRK is viewed as a better pick due to its diverse portfolio and strong Keytruda sales, despite challenges [30]

Core Insights - The PGIM Jennison Health Sciences Fund's second-quarter 2025 investor letter highlights significant volatility in equities, with the S&P 1500 Health Care Index declining 6.9%, underperforming the S&P 500's 10.9% return [1] - Health care providers, life sciences tools, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals underperformed the index, while healthcare technology and medtech sectors showed gains [1] - Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is identified as a key stock, with a market capitalization of $89.885 billion and a one-month return of -5.80% [2][3] Company Analysis: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company - Bristol-Myers Squibb focuses on developing drugs across various therapeutic areas, including Cardiovascular Disease, Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology [3] - The company has three major franchises facing patent expirations: Revlimid (generic entry in 2026), Eliquis (generic entry in 2028/29), and Opdivo (biosimilar competition starting in 2029) [3] - The fund initiated a position in BMY due to perceived undervaluation and expectations for its neuropsychiatric asset, Cobenfy, but later reduced its position following negative updates on trial results and a disappointing quarter [3]

Core Insights - Bristol Myers Squibb is expanding its direct-to-consumer offerings by making its blood thinner Eliquis and psoriasis therapy Sotyktu available at significantly discounted prices for cash-paying customers [2] Company Developments - The announcement of the price reduction comes just days before a September 29 deadline set by President [2]

Core Insights - Bristol Myers Squibb will sell its psoriasis drug Sotyktu directly to cash-paying patients at a discount exceeding 80% from the drug's list price [1] Company Summary - The decision to offer Sotyktu at a significant discount indicates a strategic move by Bristol Myers Squibb to enhance accessibility for patients who pay out-of-pocket [1]

Company Performance - Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) closed at $44.16, reflecting a -1.67% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.29% [1] - Over the last month, BMY shares decreased by 4.87%, contrasting with the Medical sector's loss of 0.33% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.08% [1] Upcoming Earnings Report - The company is set to release its earnings on October 30, 2025, with projected earnings of $1.65 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 8.33% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is $11.77 billion, down 1.03% from the previous year [2] Full Year Estimates - Analysts expect full-year earnings of $6.5 per share and revenue of $47.31 billion, representing changes of +465.22% and -2.06% respectively from last year [3] Analyst Estimates and Market Sentiment - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Bristol Myers Squibb reflect evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analyst optimism [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently rates Bristol Myers Squibb as 3 (Hold) [6] Valuation Metrics - Bristol Myers Squibb has a Forward P/E ratio of 6.91, significantly lower than the industry average of 19.48 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.3, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.68 [7] Industry Context - The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, which includes Bristol Myers Squibb, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 98, placing it in the top 40% of over 250 industries [8] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) extended losses for the seventh consecutive session on Wednesday as the stock ended 1.58% lower at $44.20. Between September 16 and September 23, BMY lost over 3%. On a year-to-date basis, it has declined by nearly 21% compared to a 12.86% rise ...

Core Insights - Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) announced positive data from the late-stage study on iberdomide for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) [1][8] - The phase III EXCALIBER-RRMM study demonstrated statistically significant improvement in minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rates compared to the control arm [2][8] - The study is designed to assess dual-primary endpoints of MRD negativity and progression-free survival (PFS), with additional secondary endpoints including overall survival (OS) and health-related quality of life [3] Study Details - The EXCALIBER-RRMM study is a multicenter, two-stage, randomized, open-label trial evaluating iberdomide in combination with Darzalex and dexamethasone versus Darzalex, bortezomib, and dexamethasone [1][3] - The safety profile of iberdomide in combination with daratumumab and dexamethasone is consistent with previous studies, and the trial will continue to evaluate PFS and OS [4] - BMY plans to discuss the results with health authorities as iberdomide represents a novel class of medicines called CELMoDs, which may change the treatment landscape for multiple myeloma [5] Portfolio Expansion - BMY's Growth Portfolio includes drugs such as Opdivo, Orencia, and Yervoy, as the company seeks to expand its pipeline due to the adverse impact of generics on its legacy portfolio [6] - BMY's shares have decreased by 17.8% year-to-date, while the industry has grown by 5.2% [6] Collaboration and New Developments - BMY is collaborating with BioNTech on the development of pumitamig, a bispecific antibody for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, which has shown a 76.3% confirmed objective response rate in interim data [9][10] - The approval of Cobenfy for schizophrenia broadens BMY's portfolio and validates its acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics, representing a new pharmacological approach to treating schizophrenia [11][12]

Core Insights - The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) announced the review results for the 2025 National Basic Medical Insurance (BMI) catalog and the first version of the commercial health insurance innovative drug catalog, marking a critical phase in the "dual catalog" adjustment process [1] - In the first year of the "dual catalog" discussions, 534 products passed the initial review for the BMI catalog, while 121 drugs were included in the commercial insurance innovative drug catalog, with over 60% of the 121 drugs being "double reported" [1][2] - The "double reported" drugs reflect the pharmaceutical companies' uncertain mindset regarding drug pricing negotiations in the BMI process, with high-priced drugs often targeting commercial insurance while others focus on BMI [2][3] Group 1: Drug and Company Analysis - A total of 79 drugs from 74 companies were "double reported," with 4 companies reporting two or more drugs, indicating a competitive landscape among pharmaceutical firms [1][3] - The "double reported" drugs include various categories, such as 19 rare disease drugs and 3 CAR-T therapies, showcasing a diverse range of therapeutic areas [1][5] - The highest annual treatment cost among the "double reported" drugs is approximately 1.5 to 2 million yuan for a rare disease drug from Takeda, highlighting the financial implications for both companies and patients [8][9] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Strategies - The "double reporting" strategy is seen as a low-cost strategic exploration for companies, allowing them to gauge market responses without significant investment [3][4] - Companies are motivated to participate in both catalogs to avoid being at a disadvantage if competitors succeed in securing listings in one while they do not [3][4] - The overall pass rate for the commercial insurance innovative drug catalog is estimated to be below 30%, indicating a challenging environment for companies seeking approval [4][9] Group 3: Insights on Rare Diseases and CAR-T Therapies - Rare disease drugs face significant hurdles in entering the BMI catalog, with only 13 out of 48 rare disease drugs passing the initial review in 2024, suggesting a low success rate [9][10] - CAR-T therapies are viewed as having a better chance of entering the commercial insurance catalog, with companies adjusting their strategies based on past experiences in BMI negotiations [10][11] - The pricing strategies for CAR-T drugs reflect a calculated approach, with companies aware of the need to control costs to meet BMI requirements while also targeting commercial insurance [10][11] Group 4: Cross-National Company Participation - Among the "double reported" drugs, 14 are from 10 multinational companies, indicating a strong interest from global players in the Chinese market [20][21] - The competitive landscape includes multiple drugs targeting similar conditions, leading to a scenario where companies are closely monitoring each other's submissions [22][23] - The performance of these drugs in commercial health insurance products, particularly in the context of "惠民保" (Hui Min Bao), has been promising, providing a potential pathway for future approvals [26][28]

In this article, we will be taking a look at the 10 Best Pharma Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is placed third among them. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY), a global biopharmaceutical leader in oncology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, and fibrosis, is undergoing major strategic changes as it adapts to shifting market conditions. On September 17, 2025, the company announced plans to divest its 60% stake in a pharmaceutical joint venture in China. The move ...

Core Insights - The discussion focuses on the potential of cell therapy, particularly in the hematology space, highlighting current advancements and future innovations [1][2] Company Insights - Bristol's Head of the cell therapy business, Lynelle, is involved in the conversation, indicating the company's commitment to this area of research and development [1] - The company is positioned to leverage proof points from existing therapies while exploring innovative solutions in the cell therapy sector [2] Industry Insights - The cell therapy market is experiencing significant innovation, with expectations for growth and new applications in hematology [2] - The conversation aims to provide insights into the current landscape of cell therapy and its future trajectory within the industry [1][2]