Novartis AG (NVS) Gets Upgraded to Overweight from Neutral by JPMorgan

Group 1 - Novartis AG has been upgraded to Overweight from Neutral by JPMorgan, with a new price target set at CHF 125, up from CHF 95, as part of its 2026 outlook for the European pharma sector [1] - The performance of the pharmaceutical sector is expected to be driven by pipeline readouts, leading to downgrades for companies lacking such developments in 2026 [2] - Novartis announced FDA approval for Itvisma, the first gene replacement therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children aged two and older, adults, and teens with a confirmed mutation in the SMN1 gene [3] Group 2 - Itvisma demonstrated improved motor function and stabilization in patients regardless of their SMA treatment history during Phase III studies, with a one-time dose replacing the SMN1 gene [4] - Novartis operates in various segments, including Innovative Medicines, Sandoz, and Corporate, and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland [5]