It's 5AM in New York City. Good morning. I'm Vonnie Quinn with your Bloomberg Brief.Let's get you set up for the day. Traders paring back rate cutbacks following that payrolls report. Jobless claims up next.Stocks recovering from another scare trade while anthropic inching closer to a deal that would value the farm at $350 billion. And midterm anxieties rise for President Trump as the House passes a bill targeting his levies on Canadian imports. So futures are pointed higher today.Now, yesterday, we had ano ...

Core Viewpoint - Helus Pharma has appointed Michael Cola as CEO at a pivotal moment for the company, as it advances its next-generation mental health therapies and approaches critical clinical milestones [2][3]. Company Developments - Helus Pharma is progressing its clinical pipeline, with HLP004 Phase II data expected to be released this quarter and HLP003 Phase III topline data anticipated in Q4 2026 [2][6]. - The company has submitted over 350 patent applications globally and has received more than 100 patents, indicating a strong intellectual property portfolio [2]. - Helus Pharma is focused on addressing severe mental health disorders through differentiated projects and is transitioning from early clinical development to late-stage execution [2][6]. Leadership Appointment - Michael Cola brings over 30 years of experience in neuroscience, rare diseases, and specialty pharmaceuticals, making him a suitable leader for Helus [3][4]. - Cola's previous achievements include transforming Shire into a leader in the CNS field and significantly increasing its market value from $5 billion to $20 billion [4][5]. - Cola has also held leadership roles in various companies, contributing to successful clinical transitions and product launches [5][6]. Company Background - Helus Pharma, established in 2019, focuses on developing proprietary new serotonin agonists (NSAs) aimed at improving mental health recovery [8]. - The company is currently developing two proprietary NSAs: HLP003, in Phase III for major depressive disorder, and HLP004, in Phase II for generalized anxiety disorder [8]. - Helus Pharma aims to address the significant unmet treatment needs of patients with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders [8].

Core Viewpoint - Agilent Technologies Inc. has received FDA approval for PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx as the only FDA-approved companion diagnostic for identifying first-line patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 and may be eligible for treatment with KEYTRUDA® [1] Group 1 - The FDA has approved PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx as a companion diagnostic [1] - This diagnostic is specifically indicated for patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma [1] - The approval aids in identifying patients whose tumors express PD-L1 and who may be eligible for KEYTRUDA® treatment [1]

Core Insights - Calla Lily Clinical Care and Merck have formed a strategic collaboration to advance the development of Callavid®, a novel intravaginal drug delivery platform [1] - This partnership marks the first industry collaboration for the Callavid technology, indicating significant potential for market impact [1] - Callavid is designed as a leak-resistant medical device aimed at overcoming challenges in women's health [1]

Company Overview - Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) has experienced a significant increase in its share price, rising nearly 50% over the past six months, indicating strong market performance [2]. Investment Potential - The company possesses a valuable portfolio of assets that is expected to generate strong shareholder returns, making it an attractive investment opportunity [2]. Research and Analysis - The Value Portfolio employs a fact-based research strategy to identify investments, which includes thorough analysis of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations [3].

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has a diverse revenue stream in its Innovative Medicine division, with sales reaching $60.4 billion in 2025, reflecting a 5.3% operational growth and a 4.1% organic growth despite the loss of exclusivity for Stelara [1][10] Group 1: Sales Performance - The Innovative Medicine segment achieved over $15 billion in sales for three consecutive quarters in 2025, marking the first time it surpassed $60 billion in full-year sales [2] - Key products such as Darzalex, Tremfya, and Erleada contributed significantly to growth, with Darzalex sales increasing by 23.0% to $14.35 billion, Erleada by 19.2% to $3.57 billion, and Tremfya by 40.5% to $5.2 billion [6][9] - The decline in Stelara sales by 41.3% to $6.08 billion in 2025 due to its loss of exclusivity negatively impacted the segment's growth by 1110 basis points [4][5] Group 2: Future Outlook - J&J anticipates accelerated growth in the Innovative Medicine segment in 2026, driven by key products and new launches, with expected growth of 5% to 7% from 2025 to 2030 [7][9] - The company expects a more pronounced impact from new products in 2026, including Rybrevant and Caplyta, following approvals in 2025 [7] - However, the impact of generic competition is expected to intensify in 2026, particularly for Stelara, Simponi, and Opsumit as they lose patent protection [8] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - J&J operates in key areas of immunology and oncology, facing competition from major drugmakers such as Novartis, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, and Amgen [10][11] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - J&J's stock has outperformed the industry, rising 55.6% over the past year compared to an 18.0% increase in the industry [12] - The company's shares are currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 20.63, higher than the industry average of 18.76 and above its five-year mean of 15.65 [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has increased from $11.48 to $11.54, indicating positive sentiment [16]

For years, investors have discounted Merck ( MRK ) due to the coming loss of exclusivity [LOE] for Keytruda in 2028. While headlines from last week's earnings report focused on softer-than-expected guidance, investors may have overlooked a bullishBrendan, a Pennsylvanian by birth:-Completed a Ph.D. at Stanford University in the field of organic synthesis (2009). -Worked for a major pharmaceutical company (Merck, 2009-2013).-Worked in biotech including start-ups (Theravance/Aspira) prior to securing employme ...

For years, investors have discounted Merck ( MRK ) due to the coming loss of exclusivity [LOE] for Keytruda in 2028. While headlines from last week's earnings report focused on softer-than-expected guidance, investors may have overlooked a bullishBrendan, a Pennsylvanian by birth:-Completed a Ph.D. at Stanford University in the field of organic synthesis (2009). -Worked for a major pharmaceutical company (Merck, 2009-2013).-Worked in biotech including start-ups (Theravance/Aspira) prior to securing employme ...

Core Viewpoint - Ascentage Pharma Group International is actively participating in the Guggenheim Emerging Outlook: Biotech Summit 2026, highlighting its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in cancer through innovative therapies [1][2]. Company Overview - Ascentage Pharma is a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for cancer [3]. - The company has developed a rich pipeline of innovative drug products, including inhibitors targeting key proteins in the apoptotic pathway and next-generation kinase inhibitors [3]. Key Products - The lead asset, Olverembatinib, is the first third-generation BCR-ABL1 inhibitor approved in China for treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with T315I mutations and is included in the China National Reimbursement Drug List [4]. - Olverembatinib is currently undergoing a global registrational Phase III trial (POLARIS-2) for CML and additional trials for newly diagnosed Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and SDH-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) [4]. - The second approved product, Lisaftoclax, is a novel Bcl-2 inhibitor for hematologic malignancies, currently being commercialized in China for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) [5]. - Lisaftoclax is involved in four global registrational Phase III trials, including studies in combination with BTK inhibitors and in newly diagnosed patients with various hematologic conditions [5]. Research and Development - Ascentage Pharma has established a robust R&D capability and holds a portfolio of global intellectual property rights [6]. - The company has formed partnerships with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer, as well as collaborations with prominent research institutions [6].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of quantitative research, financial modeling, and risk management in equity valuation and market trends to identify high-growth investment opportunities [1] Group 1: Company Expertise - The company has over 20 years of experience in quantitative research and financial modeling, focusing on equity valuation and market trends [1] - The company has developed deep expertise in both fundamental and technical analysis through leadership roles in model validation and stress testing [1] - The research approach combines rigorous risk management with a long-term perspective on value creation, particularly in macroeconomic trends and corporate earnings [1] Group 2: Research Collaboration - The company co-authors investment research with a partner, leveraging complementary strengths to deliver high-quality, data-driven insights [1] - The collaboration aims to provide actionable ideas for investors seeking to outperform the market [1]