2 Everlasting Big Pharma Stocks to Buy Today and Hold Forever

Core Insights - The article highlights two pharmaceutical companies, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk, as attractive long-term investment opportunities in the big pharma sector Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing medicines for rare diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis (CF) and sickle cell disease (SCD), with a history of success in this area [2][3] - The company has seven approved medicines, six for CF and one for SCD and beta thalassemia, contributing to a 63% increase in trailing-12-month net income over the last five years, reaching over $3.6 billion [2][3] - Vertex employs a strategy of follow-on development to test drug combinations, which reduces R&D costs and leverages existing successful treatments [3][4] - The company is expanding into new markets, partnering with CRISPR Therapeutics to commercialize a near-curative treatment for SCD and beta thalassemia, indicating a strategy of diversifying offerings while maintaining its stronghold in CF [4] Novo Nordisk - Novo Nordisk generates revenue primarily from cardiometabolic drugs, with leading products like Ozempic and Wegovy targeting type 2 diabetes and obesity, respectively [5][6] - The market for Ozempic and similar drugs is projected to reach $33 billion by 2029, and the company has seen a 111.6% growth in trailing-12-month net income, exceeding $12.1 billion over the last five years [5][6] - Novo Nordisk aims to expand its presence in the obesity and diabetes markets while also targeting chronic kidney disease and Alzheimer's disease, focusing on maximizing the potential of its existing cardiometabolic medicines [7] - The company is currently unable to meet global demand for Ozempic, which may provide a buffer for future development plans, ensuring continued profitability for shareholders [8]