Core Insights - Protalix BioTherapeutics and Secarna Pharmaceuticals have entered into a collaboration and option agreement to develop antisense oligonucleotide therapies for rare renal diseases, leveraging Protalix's expertise in rare diseases and Secarna's AI-powered OligoCreator platform [1][2][3] Company Overview - Protalix BioTherapeutics focuses on innovative therapeutics for rare diseases and has developed two enzyme replacement therapies available in multiple markets, utilizing a proprietary plant cell-based expression system called ProCellEx [4][5] - Secarna Pharmaceuticals specializes in oligonucleotide therapeutics and employs its OligoCreator platform to rapidly generate high-quality antisense candidates, aiming to transform untreatable conditions into treatable ones [7] Collaboration Details - The collaboration involves Protalix selecting pharmaceutical targets for rare renal indications, while Secarna will use its OligoCreator platform to design and profile ASO candidates against these targets [2] - Protalix has the option for an exclusive, worldwide license to further develop and commercialize the therapeutic programs resulting from this collaboration [2][3] Strategic Goals - The partnership aims to advance programs from preclinical stages to clinical trials, addressing significant unmet medical needs in the rare kidney disease space [2][3] - Both companies express excitement about the collaboration, highlighting the combination of Secarna's rapid candidate generation and Protalix's experience in bringing therapies to market [3]

Core Viewpoint - Sealed Air Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement with CD&R for an acquisition valued at $10.3 billion, with a purchase price of $42.15 per share, and the transaction is expected to close in mid-2026 [1][4]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The "go-shop" period for Sealed Air's acquisition expired on December 16, 2025, during which the company solicited alternative acquisition proposals from 29 parties, resulting in six parties entering confidentiality agreements [2]. - Following the expiration of the "go-shop" period, Sealed Air is now subject to "no-shop" provisions, limiting its ability to negotiate with third parties [3]. - The transaction is contingent upon stockholder approval, regulatory clearances, and other customary closing conditions [4]. Group 2: Company Overview - Sealed Air Corporation is a global leader in packaging solutions, generating $5.4 billion in sales in 2024 and employing approximately 16,400 people across 117 countries [6]. - The company specializes in food and protective packaging solutions, with well-known brands including CRYOVAC®, SEALED AIR®, LIQUIBOX®, AUTOBAG®, and BUBBLE WRAP® [6].

Core Insights - Positioning investment portfolios for 2026 is crucial, with a focus on selling stocks that have reached their full potential to lock in gains and free up cash [1] Group 1: Palantir - Palantir's AI-powered data analytics software has seen significant demand, resulting in a 63% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 and a profit margin of 40% [4] - Despite strong business fundamentals, Palantir's stock is trading at an excessive valuation of 259 times forward earnings and 123 times sales, which is significantly higher than comparable companies like Nvidia [5] - Analysts predict a slowdown in revenue growth for Palantir, with expectations of 41% growth in 2026, down from 54% in 2025, indicating potential risks for the stock price [6] Group 2: BigBear.ai - BigBear.ai, a smaller AI stock, is facing a more severe issue as its revenue is shrinking, despite the overall demand for AI software [7] - The company focuses on providing custom AI solutions to the U.S. government and related sectors, but its lack of growth raises concerns about its future performance [8]

Core Insights - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has added Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to the recommended newborn screening panel, which is seen as a significant advancement in early diagnosis and potential treatment opportunities in the biotech sector [1] Group 1: Industry Impact - The addition of DMD to the newborn screening panel is expected to create new market opportunities for biotechnology companies focused on developing therapies for this condition [1] - This decision may lead to increased investment and research in the field of genetic disorders, particularly in the development of innovative treatments for DMD [1] Group 2: Analyst Perspective - The analyst emphasizes the importance of combining scientific expertise with financial analysis to identify promising biotechnology companies that are innovating in unique ways [1] - The focus is on evaluating the science behind drug candidates, the competitive landscape, clinical trial design, and potential market opportunities, while also considering financial fundamentals and valuation [1]

Key Information - Rathbones Group Plc disclosed a position in The Unite Group Plc, holding 602,285 relevant securities, representing 0.12% of the total [1][3] - The disclosure date for the position held was December 16, 2025 [1] - The disclosure includes interests in relevant securities and short positions, with no short positions reported [3] Positions - The total interests in the relevant securities of The Unite Group Plc are 602,285 shares, which is 0.12% of the total [3] Dealings - Rathbones Group Plc sold 140 ordinary shares at a price of 533.73 pence per unit [7]

RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B15 trial (also known as EV- 304) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The trial showed KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) plus Padcev ® (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv), given as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment (before and after surgery), demonstrated a statistically signific. ...

Core Insights - Kneat.com, inc. has signed a three-year Master Services Agreement with a major specialty chemicals manufacturer, enhancing its momentum in new customer acquisitions for 2025 [1][3] - The agreement is expected to drive the deployment of Kneat Gx across critical functions such as Computer System Validation, Equipment Validation, and electronic logbooks [2] Company Overview - Kneat Solutions specializes in digital validation and quality process automation, serving highly regulated industries [4] - The company’s platform, Kneat Gx, is fully certified and compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and 21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11 [4] - Kneat Gx has demonstrated significant efficiency improvements, reducing man-hours for validation documentation by up to 50% and accelerating review and approval cycles by up to 50% [4] Market Position - Kneat has achieved record new customer acquisitions in 2025, driven by strong demand and a high win rate against competitors [3] - The platform is recognized for its ease of use, no-code configurability, and reliable data integrity, positioning Kneat as a leader in the digital validation market [3]

Core Insights - Astellas Pharma and Pfizer announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 EV-304 clinical trial for PADCEV in combination with Keytruda, showing significant improvements in event-free survival and overall survival for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients [1][5][7] Company Insights - Astellas Pharma is focused on advancing treatment options for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with recent findings reinforcing the potential of PADCEV plus pembrolizumab to improve survival outcomes for a broad patient population [4][5] - Pfizer emphasizes the significance of the EV-304 results, indicating a potential shift in the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients, particularly those ineligible for platinum-based chemotherapy [5][6] Industry Insights - Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is a significant health concern, with nearly half of patients progressing to metastatic disease within three years of diagnosis, highlighting the need for effective treatment options [3][6] - The EV-304 trial results may lead to a new standard of care in bladder cancer treatment, moving away from conventional platinum-based chemotherapy [5][7]

Databricks has announced plans to raise more than $4bn in a Series L funding round that values the company at $134bn. The San Francisco-based data and AI company surpassed a $4.8bn revenue run-rate during its third quarter, with year-on-year growth of more than 55%. The run-rate figure includes more than $1bn from its data warehousing business and more than $1bn from its AI products. The company has delivered positive free cash flow over the 12 months since December 2024. Insight Partners, Fidelity Man ...

Oil Industry - U.S. crude futures increased by 2.4% to over $56 per barrel following President Trump's order for a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela [2][3] - The blockade represents a significant escalation in U.S.-Venezuela tensions, particularly after the recent seizure of a tanker off the Venezuelan coast [4] - Approximately 30% of Venezuela's oil shipments are at risk if U.S. sanctions continue to be enforced [5] - U.S. crude futures had previously dipped below $55 for the first time in nearly five years due to expectations of a potential easing of sanctions amid a possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal [6] - Analysts indicate that crude oil is nearing critical technical levels, with a potential downside break that could test the $50 mark [7] Consumer Finance - The CFO of Affirm Holdings (AFRM) reported that consumers currently feel healthy, with no signs of stress in repayment rates [8] - Approximately 96% of Affirm's transactions come from repeat borrowers, who typically exhibit lower default rates [9] - Delinquencies and repayment rates are aligning with expectations, indicating stable financial health for the company [10] - Affirm's shares rose nearly 12% after renewing a partnership with Amazon for an additional five years, reaching their highest point in a month [11] Rail Industry - The proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific (UNP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) has lost support from two major unions representing over half of the workforce [12] - Concerns from the unions include increased safety risks, higher shipping rates, and potential disruptions to service [13] - The unions are set to announce their decision regarding the merger, which will be evaluated by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board for public interest [14]