MCK Stock Down Despite Latest Partnership to Boost SCD Treatment

Core Insights - McKesson Corporation's dedicated business, InspiroGene, has been selected by Vertex Pharmaceuticals to expand commercial distribution options for CASGEVY, a CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy approved by the FDA for treating sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia [1][2] Company Overview - McKesson currently has a market capitalization of $78.85 billion and a projected earnings per share growth of 18.5%, which is significantly higher than the industry average of 7.5% [4] - The company delivered an earnings surprise of 2.6% in the last reported quarter [4] Partnership Rationale - The partnership with Vertex is aimed at addressing significant unmet needs in the treatment of sickle cell disease, leveraging McKesson's supply chain expertise to support the commercialization of innovative medicines [5] - InspiroGene will utilize McKesson's specialty pharmacy and specialty distributor capabilities to enhance the distribution of CASGEVY [6] Market Prospects - The global sickle cell disease treatment market was estimated at $2.75 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.7% from 2024 to 2030, driven by increased disease awareness and advancements in medical research [7] - The partnership with Vertex is expected to solidify McKesson's position in this growing market [7] Recent Collaborations - McKesson's oncology technology business, Ontada, has formed a strategic collaboration with Datavant to integrate real-world data into their health ecosystem, aimed at accelerating oncology innovation [8] - Ontada also announced a collaboration with Microsoft to utilize Azure AI for processing oncology documents, enhancing the extraction of clinical information [9][10] - Additionally, McKesson's specialty pharmacy, Biologics by McKesson, was selected by Servier as a limited specialty pharmacy provider for VORANIGO, a treatment for specific types of brain tumors [11] Stock Performance - McKesson's shares have increased by 35.8% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 7.8% and the S&P 500's growth of 30% [12]